Some Salem firefighters quarantined after possible exposure to COVID-19

Department waits for test results as firefighters remain in isolation

Department waits for test results as firefighters remain in isolation

TONIGHT -- IT IS STILL A WAITING GAME TO SEE IF THEY CONTRACTED THE VIRUS. <COVER W/ FIRE STATION B-ROLL -- CLIP 4094 08;22;11--08;22;15 CHIEF BEST/SALEM FIRE DEPT.: "WE HAVE THEM ISOLATED IN ONE OF OUR FIRE STATIONS."> THREE SALEM FIREFIGHTERS ARE SPENDING THE NIGHT IN QUARANTINE -- AFTER RESPONDING TO NEARLY THREE DOZEN CALLS IN WHICH PEOPLE SHOWED SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19. DURING TWO OF THOSE CALLS -- THEIR CHIEF SAYS THE CREWS WERE áNOT WEARING PROTECTIVE GEAR. <CLIP 4094 08;24;59- 08;25;11 CHIEF LARRY BEST/SALEM FIRE DEPT.: "EVERYTHING RAPIDLY OCCURRED WHEN THEY ARRIVED ON SCENE AND THEY JUST WEREN'T ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT PHYSICAL DISTANCING RIGHT OFF AND GET THEIR PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT PUT IN PLACE."> THE CHIEF SAYS THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE TAKEN OFF- DUTY áIMMEDIATELY AFTER BELIEVING THEY WERE EXPOSED. FOUR OTHER FIREFIGHTERS -- WHO ALSO HAD CONTACT WITH SYMPTOMATIC PATIENTS -- HAVE ALREADY BEEN CLEARED AND RETURNED TO WORK -- AFTER TESTS FOR THE VIRUS CAME BACK NEGATIVE. THE SCARE -- SYMBOLIC -- OF THE RISKS FIRST RESPONDERS CURRENTLY FACE. <OASIS/STAWASZ GOONAN PART 2 1;43--1;57 CHRIS STAWASZ/REGIONAL DIRECTOR, AMR: "WE WANT TO STRESS THAT IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE COVID-19, OR YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF THAT, YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER FIRST - BEFORE YOU CALL AN AMBULANCE. YOU SHOULD ONLY BE CALLING AN AMBULANCE IF YOU'RE IN EXTREME DISTRESS OR HAVE A LIFE- THREATENING SITUATION."> AMR OF MANCHESTER SAYS THE FEAR OF EXPOSURE HAS LED TO DAILY CHECKS ON STAFF'S MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH. CITY FIREFIGHTERS ARE ALSO TRYING TO COPE -- WHILE BEING EXTRA CAUTIOUS ON THE JOB. <OASIS/STAWASZ GOONAN PART 3 :25--:28 CHIEF DAN GOONAN/MANCHESTER FIRE DEPT.: "IT'S EFFECTING OUR FIREFIGHTERS - IT'S EFFECTING THEIR HOMELIFE." (BUTTED -- COVER) 1:03--1:07 "WE'RE JUST MOVING FORWARD AS WE DO EVERYDAY. WE'RE JUST TAKING MORE PRECAUTIONS."> HERE IN SALEM -- THOSE THREE FIREFIGHTERS CAN ONLY SIT AND WAIT IN ISOLATION. THE CHIEF TELLS ME THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE TEST RESULTS FOR THE SYMPTOMATIC PATIENT THEY

Some Salem firefighters quarantined after possible exposure to COVID-19

Department waits for test results as firefighters remain in isolation

Several Salem firefighters were in quarantine because they might have been exposed to COVID-19, officials said Thursday.>> Download the FREE WMUR appFour of the firefighters have been cleared to return to work after tests came back negative. Three others are still self-isolating.>> COVID-19 in New Hampshire: What you need to know"They've been exposed, so we need to deal with them as an isolation quarantine," Best said.>> Latest coronavirus coverage from WMURThe fire chief, who is also the town's director of emergency management, said crews have been on 34 calls where firefighters could have been exposed to COVID-19."(That's) based on the 911 screening criteria that we use when we talk to the patients about recent travel, fever, cough," Best said.In some of the cases, firefighters responded to two medical calls on Saturday and Monday. While firefighters will normally do an assessment and determine if they need protective gear, Best said there wasn't time."Everything rapidly occurred when they arrived on scene, and they just weren't able to maintain that physical distancing right off and get their protective equipment put in place," he said.The chief said it would be helpful to get test results back as quickly as possible, and his department is working with the state to develop a protocol."We're trying to get the patients that we deal with pushed to the top of the list in a sense so that we can get our work force and emergency responders back on the street," he said.Best said he doesn't know when the test results will come in, but said he's sure this won't be the only time firefighters will have to be quarantined. He said he's trying to develop a regional solution to avoid putting too much strain on any one department.

SALEM, N.H. —

Several Salem firefighters were in quarantine because they might have been exposed to COVID-19, officials said Thursday.

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Four of the firefighters have been cleared to return to work after tests came back negative. Three others are still self-isolating.

>> COVID-19 in New Hampshire: What you need to know

"They've been exposed, so we need to deal with them as an isolation quarantine," Best said.

>> Latest coronavirus coverage from WMUR

The fire chief, who is also the town's director of emergency management, said crews have been on 34 calls where firefighters could have been exposed to COVID-19.

"(That's) based on the 911 screening criteria that we use when we talk to the patients about recent travel, fever, cough," Best said.

In some of the cases, firefighters responded to two medical calls on Saturday and Monday. While firefighters will normally do an assessment and determine if they need protective gear, Best said there wasn't time.

"Everything rapidly occurred when they arrived on scene, and they just weren't able to maintain that physical distancing right off and get their protective equipment put in place," he said.

The chief said it would be helpful to get test results back as quickly as possible, and his department is working with the state to develop a protocol.

"We're trying to get the patients that we deal with pushed to the top of the list in a sense so that we can get our work force and emergency responders back on the street," he said.

Best said he doesn't know when the test results will come in, but said he's sure this won't be the only time firefighters will have to be quarantined. He said he's trying to develop a regional solution to avoid putting too much strain on any one department.

Some Salem firefighters quarantined after possible exposure to COVID-19

Department waits for test results as firefighters remain in isolation

TRACKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE

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