According to the International Association of Fire Fighters, firefighters across the country are battling on the front lines of COVID-19 and fire departments are feeling the strain of this massive public health emergency.
The IAFF has released the following numbers as of Friday, April 24, 2020:
1,653 firefighters have tested positive for COVID-19;
4,304 isolated;
66 hospitalized;
Six deaths.
"Firefighters need more – and faster – testing so they can stay on the job and know they are not bringing the virus into the fire house, or back to their homes. They need priority access to PPE," said Tim Burn, IAFF Press Secretary. "Meanwhile, Congress must pass funding for state and local governments to help counteract the budget shortfalls during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This funding is essential to keeping firefighters and other critical workers on the job across the country."