A patient who was treated by Redlands Fire Department Firefighter/Paramedics on Monday morning, March 8, tested negative for the Novel Coronavirus. The results were released Tuesday afternoon. The Firefighter/Paramedics, have been released from a voluntary self-quarantine and may return to regular duty. Redlands paramedics first came in contact with the patient during a medical emergency call for respiratory difficulties. He was treated and transported to a local hospital and later, the Redlands Fire Department was notified that the patient was being tested for possible contraction of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19). As a precaution, the two paramedics were placed in voluntary self-quarantine until test results were available. The fire station also underwent disinfection procedures.

While the test for Novel Coronavirus was negative, the City of Redlands and the Redlands Fire Department want to remind all residents to continue to exercise precaution and proper hygiene to protect against the spread of the coronavirus.

Mayor Paul Foster commented that he was relieved to receive the results and pleased that the City employees would be able to return to normal duties as well as off-duty activities with friends and family.

“This was an effective practical exercise of the precautions the City, the Fire Department and our emergency managers have put in place to be ready for a potential coronavirus outbreak,” Foster said. “We are extremely pleased the results turned out as they did, but also recognize that we, as a community, need to remain diligent in exercising proper care and procedures to protect against infectious diseases, including the coronavirus.”

In an earlier statement, Foster said:

“The health and well-being of all Redlands residents, employees and visitors to the City are of paramount importance to us. In preparation for a potential local outbreak, over the past few weeks the City had already been in active communication with the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health and we will continue to respond based on the best advice of public health authorities and medical experts. We have also been in proactive communication with local organizations with large public reach, including the Redlands Unified School District; Redlands Community Hospital; the University of Redlands; Esri, the City’s largest private employer; and skilled nursing facilities, to share information on the coronavirus and coordinate our response.

“All available City employees will be deployed to ensure that core City functions, including essential public health and safety, are maintained.

“The most effective protection against the virus remains education and good health hygiene habits.”

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth, especially with unwashed hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
• If someone does become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough, they should stay away from work, school or other people to avoid spreading illness and contact their healthcare provider if symptoms become severe.
• N95 masks are not recommended outside a healthcare setting. Surgical masks can be worn by sick individuals to reduce the likelihood of spreading germs to others.

For more information, visit the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health website at http://wp.sbcounty.gov/dph/coronavirus/ or the Centers for Disease Control at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.