In reaction to Ohio's first confirmed death from coronavirus, a state lawmaker is urging his colleagues to back a bill that would require hospitals and local boards of health to notify first responders when a patient they've treated is suspected of having a contagious disease.
“We need to make sure our first responders stay healthy and are able to respond to the community's call for service,” said state Rep. Haraz Ghanbari (R., Perrysburg). “In this case, it's my understanding that these first responders did not find out this was a presumptive case from the hospital or department of health and heard about it instead through social media and media reports.”
Springfield Township firefighters who initially transported Mark Wagoner, Sr., to St. Luke's Hospital after a fall were not told by the hospital or the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department that Mr. Wagoner was subsequently treated as a presumptive coronavirus patient.