The New Orleans fire department says it received a nice gift from the city: one thousand rapid COVID tests days before the city’s vaccine mandate went into effect.
“It’s advantageous in that sense we can test when you get off work and then be ready by the following tour,” said Aaron Mischler.
Firefighters work on 24- and 48-hour shifts, so union leader Aaron Mischler says the once-a-week testing requirements work well for their firefighters.
However, with an estimated 40 percent of the department unvaccinated, those one thousand tests will run out within a matter of weeks. “We brought it to the city office’s attention there is a state statute, but no medical testing whatsoever cost of medical testing is to be passed onto the employee,” said Mischler.