Some city of Asheville employees -- from first responders to public works staff -- will be tested for COVID-19. Asheville mayor Esther Manheimer confirmed all essential staff that has interacted with the public since the outbreak began will be tested. Essential workers will also get the COVID-19 antibody tests to see if they've had the virus. Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, health staff, public works and water department staff will be included in the testing. "This is going to provide very important information for our employees, for their families dissolve," Asheville Fire Chief Scott Burnette said. "It will allow us to understand what level of impact that our employees have had in this pandemic so far."
The plan is to start testing in the next few days and weeks.
Manheimer said the goal is to test all sworn officers, firefighters and essential city staff based on their work assignments.