Firefighter contracts COVID-19 in Rio Vista
A Rio Vista firefighter tested positive for the novel coronavirus less than one week after the agency said it was reducing some services in order to prevent infections.
The announcement was made in a social media post on Wednesday in which the agency described the firefighter as suffering from “mild to moderate symptoms” but was otherwise “doing well and in good spirits.”
The firefighter was not identified by name or position. The agency says it is following all local, state and federal health guidelines, including specific guidance for public safety officials that was issued earlier this year by health officials in Solano County.
Last week, the Rio Vista Fire Department said it was suspending certain non-essential services and rolling out other modifications in order to prevent an infection of COVID-19 among its ranks.
"We are a small organization, and if even one firefighter got ill, it could result in negative impacts to the fire department and threaten our ability to respond to emergency incidents,” an agency spokesperson said at the time.
On Wednesday, Rio Vista Fire Chief Jeff Armstrong said the agency was continuing forward with its service modifications and would “evaluate those efforts for effectiveness and adjust where needed” in the wake of the positive test.
This newsletter is an all-volunteer effort. If you would like to show your appreciation, consider making a donation in any amount or converting your email subscription into a paid one. Discuss this newsletter and other stories from across Solano County on our Facebook group here and follow our new Twitter account here.