The ability to respond to and recover from the novel coronavirus pandemic also depends on critical infrastructure systems — electricity, water, communications, according to Utility Dive.
Ventilators and other equipment essential to treating patients with acute symptoms of the virus depend on electricity to function.
Medical care facilities are required to have backup systems in case of power outages. However, many generators fail when operated for extended periods of time, including those that have undergone required testing.
Our infrastructure workers — the power plant operators, linemen and control room technicians — are at the front lines of confronting this crisis. Core personnel are already being housed at power plants, and some companies are stocking supplies to sequester for months.
Cathryn Jakicic is healthcare industries editor of FacilitiesNet.com. For more information on hospital campuses and other medical facilities, click here.
