*Note that this is outdated information*
WHAT WE KNOW:
The Department of Health and Human Services plans to house passengers from the Diamond Princess Cruise ship at the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP)
These patients have been on the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship in Japan.
These patients have tested positive for the virus BUT have no or mild flu like symptoms.
These patients are ALREADY in the United States and are currently being housed on Department of Defense instillation.
Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) were notified at approximately 12:30 pm today by local media that these patients we coming to Anniston.
Calhoun County EMA has not been made aware of the number of passengers that are to be housed at the CDP
Since that time, we have been in contact with the Center for Domestic Preparedness and the U.S. Health and Human Services.
They have ensured us that the patients will be quarantined to a facility at the Center for Domestic Preparedness and that no one will leave the facility until they are cleared by onsite medial officials.
The Department of Health and Human Resources tells us that there is no threat to the local communities in Calhoun County.
HHS and CDP have not shared the plan for a person that needs to be transported to a hospital.
Calhoun County Commission plans to file an injunction with the Federal Government to prevent any passengers from the Diamond Princess from being quarantined in Calhoun County at the Center for Domestic Preparedness.
Calhoun County EMA will continue to be in contact with federal officials through the duration of this event.
Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency is working with local, state and Federal Governments, public safety and healthcare partners and the Alabama Department of Public Health to ensure the safety of the all Calhoun County Residents
PREPAREDNESS:
Outbreaks of viral infections among people are always a public health concern and are dependent on a number of factors (CDC source). Examples could include many different types of illnesses such as influenza (flu), the recently known coronavirus, among many others. For more information visit http://alabamapublichealth.gov/infectiousdiseases/index.html , https://www.cdc.gov/DiseasesConditions/, and https://www.cdc.gov/nonpharmaceutical-interventions/home/index.html