For the first time in the countyâs history, Kern County Public Healthâs Emergency Medical Services Program is implementing a new surge plan to deal with a rising number of 911 calls and COVID-19 cases straining the health care system. The new Emergency Medical Services System Surge Plan has four levels and the county entered Level 2, or the yellow tier, at 8â¯a.m. Wednesday. The main change in this tier is that âlow acuityâ calls may not receive an ambulance, depending on resources. âThe whole goal is to ensure that the ambulances are ready to respond to the highest level emergencies,â said Michelle Corson, spokesperson for Kern Public Health.