Rio Vista firefighters infected with COVID recovering well, agency says
Two firefighters afflicted with the coronavirus are scheduled to return to work soon.
(Photo courtesy Rio Vista Fire Department, Graphic by Solano News Update)
Two Rio Vista firefighters who became infected with the novel coronavirus COVID-19 last month are recovering well and are expected to return to work soon, the agency said in an update on Monday.
“They are doing well, on the road to recovery and remain in good spirits,” a spokesperson for the Rio Vista Fire Department said. “They are scheduled to return to work next shift in accordance with local and state guidance.”
Last month, the small-town fire department said it would reduce non-essential services as the number of positive COVID-19 infections started to climb in California.
“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,” Jeff Armstrong, the city’s fire chief, said at the time.
But Rio Vista’s measured approach wasn’t enough to prevent infections within its ranks, with the first firefighter testing positive less than a week after the fire agency suspended its non-essential activities.
The second positive case was linked to the first, but it wasn’t confirmed until several days later because of a lack of rapid tests for public safety workers, a fire agency spokesperson said.
The fire agency remains fully staffed and has been able to respond to emergency calls as needed.
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