The coronavirus pandemic has claimed another victim.
Firefighters in Person County will temporarily stop responding to most of the first responder medical calls they normally take as they try to limit their exposure to other people during the coronavirus pandemic.
That decision was made last Thursday during a meeting between Emergency Management Director Doug Young, EMS director Greg White, Roxboro fire chief Kenneth Torain and Wayne Wrenn, the president of the Person County Fire Chief’s Association, which represents the volunteer fire departments in the county. The decision applies to all the volunteer departments in the county as well as Roxboro’s Fire Department, which includes both paid staff and volunteers.
Limiting the calls firefighters will respond to means EMS had to shift work schedules for its employees to add additional manpower to each shift. EMS workers will now work 24 hours, followed by 24 hours off.