In addition to an aggressive wildfire season and active protest demonstrations in the metro area, Phoenix first responders are also contending with an increased threat of coronavirus among their ranks.
There are currently 11 confirmed coronavirus cases within the Phoenix Police Department and 8 within the Phoenix Fire Department, P.J. Dean of the United Phoenix Firefighters Union told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Wednesday. While Dean did not describe the figures as catastrophic, he said the upward trend is a reminder that the coronavirus outbreak still looms over the duties of the city’s first responders. “We just have to be careful not to get preoccupied with everything else going on to the point where we get complacent and start exposing ourselves to more COVID issues based upon the activity we’re experiencing,” Dean said.