* That would be 34 percent. Here’s Brenden Moore…
More than one-third of Springfield’s firefighters are in quarantine as a COVID-19 outbreak continues to spread through the department.
Seventy-three firefighters are quarantined, including 19 who have tested positive for the virus.
All fire stations remain open and are providing service to residents.
But two of the city’s 12 fire engines will not be in operation until further notice, according to city officials. The engines in question are each part of a multi-company station house.
* Related…
* Springfield among regions with fastest COVID-19 spread in U.S.
- Just Me 2 - Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 10:44 am:
That’s gonna’ require some extra overtime to keep the Department staffed. Great job, Mayor.
- Ms. Crabby - Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 10:49 am:
The part that makes this somehow worse… “According to officials, the majority of firefighters came into contact with an individual who was asymptomatic at an outside gathering, not on work time. The individual was not a Springfield firefighter.” This was potentially avoidable if everyone was avoiding private gatherings as they should be.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 10:50 am:
“providing service to residents”
34% are in quarantine. My old friend mathematics would beg to differ.
- Candy Dogood - Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 10:53 am:
=== This was potentially avoidable if everyone was avoiding private gatherings as they should be. ===
I thought the mayor wanted everyone to go out and celebrate Halloween.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 10:54 am:
===I thought the mayor wanted everyone to go out and celebrate Halloween===
Yep.
- Anonymous - Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 11:01 am:
I guess you really can get covid from crossfit…
- thoughts matter - Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 11:04 am:
I had a relative suggest to me that the asymptomatic firefighters should just continue to report for work as essential workers.
Seriously? Firefighters work 24 hour shifts and sleep in a dorm room. They share communal kitchen and living space. They climb into a shared vehicle to go to the fire. Then they work in tight quarters to fight said fire. They breathe in all sorts of stuff and already have breathing issues late in life. Shaking my head again. This relative is one of those that thinks it’s all nonsense and she works as an LPN in a long term care facility.
- OK Boomer - Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 11:09 am:
Our police and fire departments should be participating in a Covid surveillance program like the one New Trier has begun to use to identify asymptomatic spreaders and pull them out of circulation.
- Club J - Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 11:09 am:
Yet there are still a couple of Aldermen fighting the science in order to keep restaurants and bars open. That’s a large number of firefighters out of commission and it doesn’t sound like they are done counting yet. It’s time everyone gets on board to fight this and stop caving to whoever’s the loudest on yelling in your ear. If not our hospitals might be turning people away.
- Cool Papa Bell - Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 11:53 am:
Shield Testing at U of I for today.
0.5% 7 day case positivity test rate.
This is the leading example of one of the failures of the response to the pandemic. A national quick test would have made this wildfire spread of COVID in Springfield all but impossible.
Such a shame.
- Lurker - Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 12:29 pm:
Since we do not have any kind of medical expertise in Springfield area, I am glad the mayor put the intelligent, responsible firefighters in charge of covid for us. /S
- MyTwoCents - Friday, Nov 13, 20 @ 4:26 pm:
The firefighters who felt the need to not act responsibly should be ashamed of themselves. In an ideal world they would be disciplined by working OT without additional OT pay when they are cleared to return to work as compensation for the taxpayers who have to pick up the slack for their blatant disregard for common sense.