Gov. Charlie Baker is taking steps to shield doctors, nurses and some health care facilities on the front lines from liability as a possible surge in coronavirus cases is expected. Existing federal and state laws already provide some protections to health care workers and volunteers against civil lawsuits, but a bill Baker filed Wednesday “would provide broader liability protections appropriate to the scope of the challenge our health care providers are confronting,” Baker wrote in a letter urging legislators to act quickly.
- PUB DATE: 4/10/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Boston Herald

Uncertainties over how long the coronavirus restrictions on public gatherings and interaction will be in place has prompted the Kentucky Fire Commission to allow fire departments and firefighters to conduct “virtual” training. Virtual training is conducted in real time and differs from online training classes, which are pre-posted training sessions available at any time, executive director Larry Potter noted.
- PUB DATE: 4/10/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTVQ-DT ABC 36 Lexington

Because of the COVID 19 pandemic, Personal protective equipment is in high demand. That creates a challenge to the U.S. healthcare system for people like Brian Hambek who is the Executive Director of the Spearfish Ambulance Service. "We're worried about what we call burn rate on PPE, Personal Protective Equipment, and that is a one time use thing that you throw away,” said Hambek.
- PUB DATE: 4/10/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOTA-TV ABC 3 Rapid City

Firefighters are used to running into a burning building and risking their own lives to help others. But battling an infectious outbreak is a whole other kind of beast. Like others on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, first responders are increasingly worried about transmitting the highly contagious virus to others.
- PUB DATE: 4/10/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Kitsap Sun

A brush fire along I-5 Thursday night lead to a multiple-car crash that has one driver now arrested for DUI, according to the Washington State Patrol. The fire began sometime just before 10 p.m. along the northbound lanes near the 164th Street SW exit, according to Trooper Heather Axtman. Troopers had shut down one of the two lanes of the offramp to allow the fire to be taken care of.
- PUB DATE: 4/10/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KOMO-TV ABC 4 and Radio 1000