WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Health and Human Services says it's “evaluating” a government whistleblower's complaint alleging federal workers did not have the necessary protective gear or training when they were deployed to help victims of the coronavirus.
The complaint deals with HHS employees sent to Travis and March Air Force bases in California to assist evacuees from China.
Democratic congressman Jimmy Gomez of California says the whistleblower recently contacted his office and alleged retaliation by higher-ups for having flagged safety issues.
HHS says it takes all whistleblower complaints “very seriously” and is providing the complainant “all appropriate protections under the Whistleblower Protection Act.”
Officials with Solano County Public Health are defending staff at Travis Air Force Base.
"I've actually never worked with a meticulous group of people," Dr. Bela Matyas, a public health officer, said in a conference. "I mean, they're scary meticulous."
Lawyers for the whistleblower say the claim must be investigated by congress and the United States Office of Special Counsel.
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As concerns over the Coronavirus grow in California, ABC10 has obtained exclusive new information about a possible case in Folsom.
The patient, Mark Jorgensen, is the first known case of the coronavirus at a Folsom hospital. Jogensen is a Utah resident who was evacuated to Travis Air Force Base from Japan after he and his wife were exposed to the virus on a Diamond Princess cruise.
In a Facebook post Wednesday morning, Jogensen announced he was being moved to NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield. Thursday night, he got a call from a doctor saying he was being transferred to Mercy Hospital of Folsom.
It all started as Mark and his wife, Jerri, and another couple were vacationing on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan when the coronavirus outbreak forced them into quarantine.
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