x
Breaking News
More () »

Is Cleveland prepared for coronavirus?

With the number of confirmed cases continuing to grow in the United States, what's next if it were to happen here?

CLEVELAND — The city of Cleveland is preparing just in case the new coronavirus makes its way here.

“It’s a very fluid situation but yes we’re in constant conversation,” explains Mayor Frank Jackson who says he had meetings Monday with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hospitals and county leaders to discuss public safety.

“There is a plan that is being discussed that coordinates all of the people that need to be involved from public safety, to the health departments, county and city, to the hospitals, all of them are involved in some way.”

Ward 6 Councilman and chairman of council’s health and human services committee, Blaine Griffin says there is a pandemic plan in place.

“With every plan you have to make adjustments and there’s some unknowns about the coronavirus  (covid-19) that we have to make sure that we update, but we’re already in the process of doing that,” he says.  “These plans are fluid, they’re not cookie cutter plans, you actually have to adjust the plan accordingly.”

Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley says he hasn’t been trained on a plan but has confidence coronavirus is being taken seriously.

“Right now I believe this is something where we need not be in a panic mode but in a concerned mode and we need to prepare for what hasn’t happened yet, in the event it does happen,” he says.

Mayor Jackson says “there’s an overall plan but the situation changes form day to day right now, we don’t have the level of concerns that they have in Washington state but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen, so we’re working.”

According to NBC News, at least six deaths are linked to the disease in Washington.

Continued Coverage:

RELATED: 6 dead in US from coronavirus as more states announce first cases

RELATED: Coronavirus: Answering the top 10 questions people have been Googling

RELATED: Airlines offer coronavirus waivers as passengers decide whether to cancel trips

RELATED: Watch again: More updates on the coronavirus outbreak, plus changes to Giant Eagle's fuelperks+ policy on 'What's New'

RELATED: Summit County judge, husband voluntarily quarantined amid coronavirus concerns after trip to Italy

RELATED: Stocks surge more than 1,200 points on Wall Street following a 7-day rout

RELATED: Children can get the coronavirus but most will have mild symptoms

RELATED: Facts Not Fear | What you need to know about the COVID-19 outbreak

RELATED: WHO: Coronavirus containment is 'feasible'

RELATED: This interactive map shows all reported coronavirus cases in the world

Before You Leave, Check This Out