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The Impact of COVID-19 on First Responders

First responders for emergency services are in the unique position of managing COVID-19 safety rules for their employees while simultaneously handling emergencies. The public and the first responders can face greater risks than usual because resolving a crisis may take precedence over social distancing and wearing face masks.

The impact of coronavirus on first responders includes:
• Rethinking working practice to minimize exposure to potential
infection.
• An additional hazard of disease control when rescuing survivors
of an emergency or dealing with an enforcement issue.
• Setting up for contact tracing when managing emergency relief
shelters.
• Managing cooling or cleaner air centers during
environmental emergencies.
• Rewriting resilience and emergency planning to incorporate
disease control as an extra layer of work.

The impact of coronavirus on first responders includes:
• Rethinking working practice to minimize exposure to potential infection.
• An additional hazard of disease control when rescuing survivors of an emergency or dealing with an enforcement issue.
• Setting up for contact tracing when managing emergency relief shelters.
• Managing cooling or cleaner air centers during environmental emergencies.
• Rewriting resilience and emergency planning to incorporate disease control as an extra layer of work.

Nexsun Labs Law enforcement and Fire rescue Fireman

First responders can’t work remotely or use digital tools because the nature of their role is to deal with a crisis in person. Although there are areas where support staff and administration work can follow usual business practices for dealing with COVID-19, first responders may have other immediate priorities to save lives and maintain public order.

What You Need to Know about Testing and Surveillance for Emergency Services

First responders are not immune to catching and transmitting COVID-19, plus they are more likely to have multiple contacts during a workday. Keeping buildings free from COVID-19 with pre-entry screening is effective when people enter a building, leave, and do not return within the day. However, there is continual coming and going throughout the day for law enforcement and emergency services as shifts change and teams leave to deal with events as they happen.

Nexsun Labs Law enforcement and Fire rescue Lab

COVID-19 testing programs for first responders include:
• Pre-entry screening for visitors, contractors, administration staff,
and emergency staff at the beginning of the shift cycle.
• COVID tests for anyone displaying COVID-19 symptoms.
• Diagnostic testing for anyone in close contact with someone
displaying COVID-19 symptoms or has a positive test result.
• Regular screening to pick up early signs of infection and
asymptomatic carriers.
• Groups of people in emergencies, crises or shelters may require
screening and diagnostic tests.

COVID-19 testing programs for first responders include:
• Pre-entry screening for visitors, contractors, administration staff, and emergency staff at the beginning of the shift cycle.
• COVID tests for anyone displaying COVID-19 symptoms.
• Diagnostic testing for anyone in close contact with someone displaying COVID-19 symptoms or has a positive test result.
• Regular screening to pick up early signs of infection and asymptomatic carriers.
• Groups of people in emergencies, crises or shelters may require screening and diagnostic tests.

Emergency services and first responders need regular screening to protect themselves, colleagues, and the public. The impact of a first responder becoming infected means the service may be short-staffed, and colleagues face increasing pressure to deliver the service safely with decreased human resources.

Types of Screening and Surveillance Programs for Emergency Services

COVID-19 testing services for first responders cover:
• In some circumstances, entry to premises screening including physical temperature checks and health questionnaires.
• Diagnostic tests (saliva COVID-19 test or a nasal swab COVID-19 test) for employees with symptoms, regardless of vaccination status.
• Pool screening to rapidly clear employees who work together and to pick up asymptomatic employees.

COVID-19 testing services for first responders cover:
• In some circumstances, entry to premises screening including physical temperature checks and health questionnaires.
• Diagnostic tests (saliva COVID-19 test or a nasal swab COVID-19 test) for employees with symptoms, regardless of vaccination status.
• Pool screening to rapidly clear employees who work together and to pick up asymptomatic employees.

More frequent screening may be necessary for first responders after attending an emergency event or because of their high level of interaction with the public. If a crisis center is in operation, regular screening of the public in the center and the staff supporting them may be necessary. This may include testing upon entry to the shelter and weekly after that as a precautionary measure until the center closes.

Pre-Entry Screening

Preventing people infected with COVID-19 from accessing a building is a sensible precaution to maintain a healthy workplace. Typically, this screening involves a health questionnaire and a temperature check as a first assessment of the risk of infection.

Testing for the presence of COVID-19 may be helpful for emergency service first responders:
• At the beginning of a shift cycle when the working pattern
involves several days off.
• On return to work after vacation, illness, or other reason.
• When new employees first start or temporary staff come from
another building.
• After prolonged contact with the public – policing a major event,
for example.

Testing for the presence of COVID-19 may be helpful for emergency service first responders:
• At the beginning of a shift cycle when the working pattern involves several days off.
• On return to work after vacation, illness, or other reason.
• When new employees first start or temporary staff come from another building.
• After prolonged contact with the public – policing a major event, for example.

Daily Entrance Screening

Daily entrance screening is effective for preventing access to the building for:
• People with COVID-19 symptoms.
• People who are close contacts with a confirmed case of
COVID-19.

Daily entrance screening is effective for preventing access to the building for:
• People with COVID-19 symptoms.
• People who are close contacts with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

It may not be possible to prohibit someone with COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms from the building for emergency service. Still, it enables you to identify higher-risk individuals and take other precautions against transmitting the disease while you deal with that individual. Daily entrance screening is effective as the first line of defense for employees working in the building in an administrative role or another capacity. Typically, daily entrance screening takes the form of a health questionnaire with or without a temperature check.

Nexsun Labs Law enforcement and Fire Daily Body Temperature Check

Pool and Pod Testing

COVID-19 screening for first responders in pools, including their coworkers, is the most effective approach for rapidly clearing employees to carry on working.

Nexsunlabs Covid-19 Pool Test Process Explanation

A negative test shows the whole team is clear of infection. A positive test shows that a particular group of team members, or those on that same shift, have been exposed since they have been in regular close contact.

The sample is sufficient to pool test and carry out an individual follow-up test to identify the one or two people in the team with COVID-19. These team members may be asymptomatic.

Contact Tracing

Nexsun Labs Law enforcement and Fire rescue Contact Tracing

Contact tracing for emergency services personnel involves:
• Colleagues.
• Public and community.

Contact tracing for emergency services personnel involves:
• Colleagues.
• Public and community.

Vaccination of emergency service personnel protects them from the risks of catching and transmitting COVID-19, but not entirely.

Inside your headquarters or service buildings, it is possible to use a digital contact tracing system. You can issue the smart tags to visitors and contractors as a pass that tracks their progress through the building and close contact with your staff.

Tracking contacts with the public is more problematic, and this part will rely on a paper trail and verbal recollection. Digital contact tracing systems save time and effort. When one of your employees reports a positive COVID-19 result, the tracing system will tell you their close contacts and where they went inside the building.

Benefits of an Ongoing Testing Program

Ongoing testing of your emergency service teams means you:
• Pick up potential infection risks and stop the spread of COVID-19, protecting your staff and the community.
• Keep teams delivering services by minimizing lost time due to isolation and quarantine.
• Keep a high level of compliance with frontline defenses of distance, PPE, and hygiene.
• Reassure the public that they can trust you to deliver services without the risk of COVID-19 infection.

Ongoing testing of your emergency service teams means you:
• Pick up potential infection risks and stop the spread of COVID-19, protecting your staff and the community.
• Keep teams delivering services by minimizing lost time due to isolation and quarantine.
• Keep a high level of compliance with frontline defenses of distance, PPE, and hygiene.
• Reassure the public that they can trust you to deliver services without the risk of COVID-19 infection.

Testing Guidance / Requirements for Emergency Services

Emergency services have a strict protocol of testing requirements under federal and local laws and CDC guidelines. COVID testing for first responders must protect employees’ rights to privacy and prevent discrimination in the workplace. Although emergency service workers face an enhanced hazard level in their working lives, they deserve a safe workplace environment which can be maintained with regular testing and screening.

The impact of staff absence due to quarantine is higher in emergency service organizations, and a PCR test to reduce days lost is crucial in maintaining high levels of service delivery.

Each employee must have information about the testing process – typically a fact sheet issued with the test.

Testing Guidance / Requirements for Emergency Services

The necessary information covers the test (name, manufacturer, accuracy, limitations, and process), results (who gets them and on what time scale), and who pays for the test. Although the test is mandatory (needed for a safe workplace and to protect employees and the community), an employee may decline the test. The test paperwork needs to specify the consequences of refusing the test.

What to Do if You Have an Outbreak

An outbreak is two or more people with a connection in the workplace who contract Coronavirus. Any outbreak requires investigation as to how the infection passed between the individuals. The primary defense against transmitting COVID-19 in the workplace is social distancing, face masks, and hygiene.

What to Do if You Have an Outbreak

In emergency services, an outbreak in a team that works closely is less surprising than transmission between groups who don’t work together. Testing close contacts can help identify asymptomatic individuals who may inadvertently spread the disease.

Quarantine can reduce staff numbers by having to removing an entire team from work. You can cut the quarantine down to ten days without testing or seven with a test taken up to 48 hours before they return to work. Anyone with symptoms needs to continue to isolate even if they test negative.

Close contacts can continue to work if they are symptom-free and either vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days. You may wish to test close contacts in case they are asymptomatic.

How Can Your Employees Access a Diagnostic Test?

Emergency service employees can book an appointment with Nexsun Labs via a secure online portal or telephone to schedule an appointment. Results are available within 24 hours or less, minimizing downtime for employees without infection.

Nexsun Labs can supply you with the necessary equipment for collecting samples in the workplace to send to our diagnostic lab for pool or individual testing.

Which Program is Best for Emergency Services?

As an emergency service, you need a range of programs for the different ways employees work with each other and the public.

The COVID-19 programs for first responders should reflect your unique challenges:
• Employees with regular, unprotected contact with the public
may need more frequent screening and pre-shift testing.
• Rapid access for diagnostic testing for all employees with
symptoms.
• Frequent pool screening of employees working with vulnerable
populations.
• Access to mass screening and diagnostic tests for the public
when managing a crisis situation or shelter.
• Regular screening for employees whose absence from the
workplace gives operational difficulties.
• Testing after extended periods away from work.

As an emergency service, you need a range of programs for the different ways employees work with each other and the public.

The COVID-19 programs for first responders should reflect your unique challenges:
• Employees with regular, unprotected contact with the public may need more frequent screening and pre-shift testing.
• Rapid access for diagnostic testing for all employees with symptoms.
• Frequent pool screening of employees working with vulnerable populations.
• Access to mass screening and diagnostic tests for the public when managing a crisis situation or shelter.
• Regular screening for employees whose absence from the workplace gives operational difficulties.
• Testing after extended periods away from work.

Which Program is Best for Emergency Services?

How Our Program Works

Coronavirus and flu can put your people out of office for weeks, leaving you with gaps in your critical infrastructure and delivery. Access to rapid, accurate testing provided by our staff gives you the information you need on your employee’s infection status within 24 hours.

Your employees can self-access the service in person or take part in routine workplace screening depending on how you want to operate your COVID-19 screening and surveillance program.

Nexsun Labs offers an efficient walk-in service and can supply testing kits for workplace sample collection.

Why Partner with Nexsun Labs for Your Testing Needs?

Nexsun Labs provides tailored COVID services for first responders giving you:
• Quality assured testing in our CLIA certified laboratory.
• Rapid turnaround – results within 24 hours or less.
• Capacity for mass testing and multiple diagnostic tests.
• Support for running your workplace testing with paperwork and supplies.
• Accuracy and sensitivity appropriate to your needs with a range of tests.
• Privacy and confidentiality for your employees.

Nexsun Labs provides tailored COVID services for first responders giving you:
• Quality assured testing in our CLIA certified laboratory.
• Rapid turnaround – results within 24 hours or less.
• Capacity for mass testing and multiple diagnostic tests.
• Support for running your workplace testing with paperwork and supplies.
• Accuracy and sensitivity appropriate to your needs with a range of tests.
• Privacy and confidentiality for your employees.

Nexsun Labs aims to give you and your employees peace of mind. Accurate and affordable testing with fast results helps you and your staff deliver emergency services despite the extra challenges posed by a pandemic.

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Fast

Affordable

Accurate

Nexsun Labs Result in 24hrs

Fast Results

Nexsun Labs 99.9% Accurate

Accurate Test Results

Nexsun Labs Secure Delivery

Secure, Verifiable Results

Nexsun Labs Travel Certification

Travel Certificates

Nexsun Labs Travel Certification

CLIA & COLA Registered Lab

Prefer to Call?
Speak with a lab specialist today.



Nexsun Labs Logo

Fast

Affordable

Accurate

Nexsun Labs Result in 24hrs

Fast Results

Nexsun Labs 99.9% Accurate

Accurate Test Results

Nexsun Labs Secure Delivery

Secure, Verifiable Results

Nexsun Labs Travel Certification

Travel Certificates

Nexsun Labs Travel Certification

CLIA & COLA Registered Lab

Prefer to Call?
Speak with a lab specialist today.