Emergency dispatchers are being honored this week as it is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. APCO International says that while many people are staying home or teleworking, telecommunicators are going to work and putting the community first, while COVID-19 has increased calls and stress public safety telecommunicators are rising to the challenge to continue to put their communities first.

At this time in Washington County, 911 operators are asking additional questions to help protect first responders related to the novel coronavirus. Washington County E911 Supervisor Cara Sorrells says when a 911 call comes in, dispatchers will ask about symptoms, recent travel, and contact with anyone with respiratory symptoms so the first responders know what to expect when entering the home.