The Platte County Health Department has been at the forefront of planning for the local response to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
The health department follows the guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) and updates from those organizations are available via the health department website at plattecountyhealthdept.com. Regularly updated local information on closures and prevention strategies as well as other resources are available on the website.
A state hotline has also been set up at 877-435-8411. The hotline is operated by medical professionals and staffed 24 hours a day.
Platte County Health Department Director Mary Jo Vernon – who has been at the helm at the health department for 22 years – has shared what every Platte County resident should know right now about COVID-19.
Making plans to be a home are vital, including plans for child care and preparations for working from home, if possible. Homes should stock over the counter medication and items such as thermometers, tissues, acetaminophen/ibuprofen and cough medicine should anyone get ill.
If a resident does test positive for COVID-19, the health department will contact the individual to outline a self-isolation plan and will ask for direct contacts from the past several days.
Plans are under way to ramp up testing in the community as regulations change and more capacity becomes available. Because the health department already hosts drive-thru flu shot clinics it will be ready to rapidly set up mobile testing stations.
Healthy residents are also encouraged to check on elderly neighbors as well as family members and pick items up from the store for them if possible to limit their exposure to the public.
At a meeting of the Platte County Commission early this week, Vernon called for an epidemic of generosity, kindness and compassion, stating that patience will help the community get through this time.
Vernon has been working with Platte County Sheriff Mark Owen and the emergency management team. She said she is empowered to close local businesses for the good of the community, but it is not a decision she takes lightly.
“I’m going to be making some very hard decisions within the next 48-72 hours,” Vernon told commissioners. “Every decision made before an outbreak is seen as excessive, but ever decision made after is inadequate. We do not want to be in the ‘inadequate’ column.”
She was forced to make one of those decisions on Tuesday, March 17 when the health department ordered the closure of all restaurant dining rooms in the county.
Vernon said the United States’ trajectory of cases looks similar to Italy, which is now experiencing a crisis in health care.
“We want to make proactive actions so we don’t end up where they are,” she said.
Vernon told commissioners she has no doubt the community can handle this pandemic, so long as everyone works together.
The Platte County Health Department has two locations, in Platte City, 858-2412, and Parkville, 587-5998.