While most of the county sits at home working remotely, trying to get outside for a secluded walk or just passing time however they can in quarantine, others are working to keep essential services up and running.
And while first responders and those in health care continue to work during the COVID-19 outbreak, it’s certainly not business as usual.
“Are some of our people scared or apprehensive? Absolutely,” Summit Fire & EMS Chief Jeff Berino said. “This is new for us. Fires you can see, and we know what it’s going to do. This enemy we can’t see. So I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t apprehension.”
Operationally, Summit Fire has seen a significant reduction in need. Berino said the department’s call load has dropped by as much 80%, citing the departure of tourists, no major winter storms and community members generally trying to avoid nonessential hospital visits.