First responders in Cleveland asked a patient suspected of having coronavirus to walk a half mile to University Hospitals last month, since the ambulance crew was not properly prepared to transfer him, according to dispatch tapes obtained by Fox 8 News.
The patient had a fever and told emergency medical services he had recently been in China.
"See if he can make it down to University … on his own instead of getting us involved just because we're not ready for this yet," a supervisor said on the recording. "See if they can walk down to the emergency room."
While the patient insisted he was capable of walking to the ER, a rescue squad from the neighboring town of Cleveland Heights ended up transporting the patient to University Hospitals, where he later tested negative for coronavirus.
Since the incident occurred, Cleveland EMS has developed new guidelines for dispatchers and paramedics on how to handle potential coronavirus cases.
"The Ohio Department of Health would not recommend that EMS refuse transport to anyone who was ill," state health officials said in a statement to Fox 8 News. "EMS personnel have been trained to respond to possible cases of COVID-19 and will be protected from spread of the virus by using the normal recommended personal protective equipment during interaction with and transport of infected patients."