The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) is aware that some hospitals, EMS agencies and other providers are experiencing shortages of N95 respirators and we are strongly recommending that this type of respirator should only be utilized when necessary per policy statement 20-02 version 3.0 (see web link below).

N95s should not be used for influenza-like illness (ILI) for which there are no indications that Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) may be present. Typical ILI only requires the use of face masks. 

Hospitals, EMS agencies and providers should coordinate N95 usage with their infection control teams to ensure that N95s are only used when appropriately indicated.

https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/ems/pdf/20-02.pdf

This document is designed to provide Emergency Medical Services (EMS) practitioners, agencies and systems with interim guidance regarding the outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that began in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China on December 2019.

This guidance should be considered for the development of response plans and is not intended to supersede any infectious disease response plan that has been developed and approved by local, State or Federal authorities legally charged to do so. This guidance does not constitute a response protocol but serves as a reference for general considerations and the protection of responders.

EMS agencies are encouraged to adopt policies and procedures regarding response and treatment of all patients with communicable diseases. EMS agencies should assure that all personnel are provided with information regarding the outbreak of 2019-nCoV and any necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), such as N95 respirators, including guidelines for the use of such PPE.

For updates and additional information regarding this 2019-nCoV outbreak, please visit the following web pages:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2019 Novel Coronavirus, Wuhan, China at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

For questions regarding information in this advisory or information you’ve received about this outbreak from other sources, please contact the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems.

Additional updates will be provided as more information about the virus is released. 

Ryan Greenberg