Novel Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Plan- fbg-2

Fever and signs/symptoms of a lower respiratory illness (e.g. cough or shortness of breath), AND a
history of travel from Hubei Province, China within 14 days of symptom onset
OR
Fever and signs/symptoms of a lower respiratory illness (e.g. cough or shortness of breath)
requiring hospitalization, AND a history of travel from mainland China within 14 days of symptom
onset
Response Guidelines
In the Bahamas, any suspected case is treated in the tertiary care institution, not home
isolation. Asymptomatic travelers with unknown exposure history are managed with
“home-based isolation”
Most cases of COVID-19 are expected to be cases that can be managed with home-based
isolation and would not require transport to a tertiary level institution 12
When the Dispatch Units of N.E.M.S. receives a call of a patient complaining of respiratory
illness and/or fever, the Dispatch call taker should confirm the details of the travel history
and symptomology, ensuring the client meets criteria of a suspect or probable case of
COVID-19. This is done by asking the following:
o The Dispatcher should ask the following questions during the caller interrogation
process:
• Does the patient have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing?
• Have they traveled from China in the last 14 days?
• Have they had close contact with a person who recently traveled from China?
• Have they had contact with a person confirmed or suspected to have COVID-
19?
o This is further confirmed by EMS personnel assessing the patient at the site
• The client is assessed for the presence/or absence of fever, cough, shortness
of breath, and dyspnea
• Vitals to critically note include temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, and
oxygen saturation
The presence of these, along with a history of recent travel to
mainland China, a strongly suggestive of a suspect COVID-19 case and
should be relayed to the Dispatcher
The Dispatcher should regard the patient as a suspect COVID-19 if the answer is YES to
travel to China within the past 20 days and has symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 infection,
as outlined above.
The Dispatcher should immediately contact the receiving facility, which has an identified
isolation area and notify a representative of the Surveillance Unit of the Ministry of Health
12
Home care for patients with suspected novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection presenting with mild symptoms and
management of contacts Interim guidance 20 January 2020; WHO/nCov/IPC_HomeCare/2020.1
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