Dispatchers and first responders are taking the precautions they need to keep themselves and the community safe from COVID-19. Safety has always been a key component when dispatching first responders to emergency situations. Safety precautions have increased with the risk of COVID-19 across the country. "We screen them on the phone first and then we alert the first responders just to give them a heads up that they may need to take precautions before getting out there," Ozark-Dale County E911 Director Paula Simmons said. All dispatchers have guide cards given to them by the state 911 board. "They have provided a guide card for us just for the virus so we can screen callers when they call in with emergencies," Simmons added. First responders jobs will not change when it comes to serving the community.