State Rep. Ken Gordon, D-Bedford, has added his name to growing list of legislators behind a bill allowing first-responders exposed to COVID-19 during a call to qualify for health hazard duty.
The bill comes in response to a growing list of first-responders exposed to the virus.
According to Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts President Rich MacKinnon, the organization set up a text chain for departments to report if their members are being tested for the illness, are in quarantine or have been exposed to COVID-19 while responding to a medical call. The PFFM represents 223 local departments. As of Tuesday, March 24, MacKinnon said there are 158 firefighters being tested for the coronavirus, 160 members on a three-day quarantine, 101 on a 14-day quarantine and 509 who have filled out documents detailing their exposure to the illness.