At least 5,000 firefighters across the U.S. are under quarantine because of the coronavirus, an official with the International Association of Fire Fighters union told Hill.TV on Monday.
Jim Brinkley, the union’s assistant to general president of technical assistance, said on Hill.TV’s “Rising” that the number is likely higher due to “severe underreporting.”
Brinkley said only 500 of the 3,400 fire departments in the union are reporting coronavirus numbers to the union.
Among those 500 departments, 5,000 firefighters are in quarantine, 3,000 are in isolation and 700 have tested positive for the coronavirus, Brinkley said.
“This is not something that's just isolated to one area. I think the news has been really focused on what’s happening in New York and New Jersey and that's tragic ... but we’re nearly 90 days into this," he said.