COVID Disclaimer

Please contact the regional office, 978-792-5477 if you have any questions about how COVID has impacted our EMS community.

For the latest information on COVID-19: Vaccines, Cases, and Restrictions (Mass.gov website)

Flu and COVID-19 Vaccination by EMS Personnel Under Commissioner’s Order 12/18/2020</>

COVID-19 and MA EMS Certification

• DPH Guidance, January 6, 2021: Updated Comprehensive Personal Protective Equipment

  • This guidance replaces Comprehensive Personal Protective Equipment guidance published on July 6 and May 21

• Continuing Education Limits on Distributive Education (January 2021) l DOC: Update to Administrative Requirement 2-212, to allow EMS personnel with certifications expiring in 2021 to complete all their remaining continuing education through distributive education.

• CDC updated guidance for all first responders, including law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services, and emergency management officials, who anticipate close contact with persons with confirmed or possible COVID-19 in the course of their work, March 10: CDC’s Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems and 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for 2019-nCoV in the United States and information about recommended EPA-registered disinfectants that meet the criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2: List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2.

• DPH Guidance for all workers, updated December 7: Return to Work Guidance PDF | Doc

• DPH Guidance, November 2020: Advisory 20-10-01: COVID-19 Workplace Safety Standards for Ambulance Service Locations – (November 2020) | (DOCX)

• DPH Guidance, June 29:

  • Advisory 20-06-01: Extension of CPR and ACLS Expirations

    • This Advisory replaces Advisory 20-03-01 UPDATED

  • Advisory 20-06-02: Lifting of Suspensions of Clinical and Field Components of EMS Courses

    • Effective immediately, the portion of Advisory 20-05-01 that continued the suspension of clinical and field internship components of EMS courses, is rescinded.

• DPH Guidance, updated September 16, 2020: Advisory 20-05-01 – Partial Lifting of In-Person EMS Course and Psychomotor Exam Suspensions. This replaces guidance issued April 3 and first updated May 23.

• DPH Memorandum 20/05/23 – Modification to EMT Psychomotor Exam Processes During COVID-19 State of Emergency – issued May 23, replacing guidance issued April 3.

• DPH Guidance, April 10: AR 2-305: Minimum Skill Requirements for Paramedic Training

• DPH Guidance, April 6:

  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guidance for First Responders and EMS Entering Long Term Care Facilities

  • Nursing Home FAQs for First Responders & Municipalities

• DPH Guidance, April 3:

  • Waiver for EMS Transport of Emergency Patients in Impending Childbirth or with Pregnancy Complications to Designated Alternate Sites on Hospital Grounds

• Updated EMT Recertification Guidance, April 1: DPH has temporarily extended EMT certifications that would have expired 4/1/2020, that had not been previously renewed and which were in good standing, until 90 days after the termination of the state of emergency. These replace guidance issued March 18.

  • AR 2-248: Deadlines for Renewal of Certification, and Reinstatement Procedures for Massachusetts Certified EMT-Basics – Updated 4/1/20

  • AR 2-353: Deadlines for Renewal of Certification, and Reinstatement Procedures for Massachusetts Certified Advanced EMTs and Paramedics – Updated 4/1/20

• DPH Memo, March 31: Temporary Approval of Mobile Integrated Health Care (MIH) Programs

• DPH Emergency Waiver, March 29: Temporary Waiver for Non-Transport of Certain COVID-19-Only Patients

• Emergency Statewide Treatment Protocols:

  • Emergency Update to Protocol 7.3: Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) and Comfort Care/ Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order Verification – 4/3/20

  • 1.3 Emergency Non-Transport Protocol – 3/29/20

  • 1.3 Emergency Non-Transport Memo – 3/29/20

  • 1.2 Patient At Risk for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) | Doc – updated 4/28/20

• DPH Guidance, March 24:

  • Advisory 20-03-03, Extending First Responder Training

  • Update to AR 2-317, allowing for 2 years for course completion

• DPH Guidance, March 20: Advisory 03-20-20: Unprotected Exposure Reporting to EMS Personnel and First Responders for COVID-19

• DPH Guidance: March 20: Emergency Measures Relating to EMS Due to COVID-19 Outbreak

• Emergency Waiver (March 20): Waiver issued to sections of 105 CMR 170.305 to reduce required staffing of each ambulance to one EMT and/or one Paramedic, depending on level of ambulance, with a driver who is a first responder, as defined in MGL c. 111, section 111C and 105 CMR 171.000 (excluding lifeguards).

• Order of the Commissioner of Public Health Regarding the Sharing of Critical Information with First Responders (March 18)