Brothers and Sisters,
As COVID continues to spike, we must stay vigilant in protecting not only our communities, but also our members. After being contacted regarding members forced to work after they were exposed, we worked on addressing the issue with the Governor’s office and State DOH. Please share the following information with your members, let me know if you have questions/concerns, and stay safe.
Samuel A. Fresina
President
NYSPFFA
As everyone is aware, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) issued
Interim Guidance for Fire Service Agencies to Limit Potential Exposure to COVID-19 on August 7, 2020. The document was created in part to mitigate potential exposure of firefighting personnel to COVID-19. The document also states that “ the first course of action, both for assuring firefighter safety and minimizing virus spread, is to allow quarantine periods of 14 days following an exposure or high-risk travel.”
We have been made aware of situations where exposed members have not been quarantined following close and proximate contact to COVID-19 positive fire fighters. DOH considers a close contact to be someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 10 minutes starting from 48 hours before illness onset until the time the person was isolated.
We have been in contact with the Governor’s office and state DOH regarding the process if a member has been in close and proximate contact with COVID-19 positive cases and have been restricted from 14 day quarantine. They have provided the following information:
- It is critical that COVID-19 positive members provide as much information as possible to contact tracers so they may begin the process of contacting all people who've had contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Providing accurate information will not only limit the spread, it will ensure that your County Department of Health will have a record of individuals that should begin the 14 day quarantine.
- The NYS Contact Tracing Program works with confirmed positive COVID-19 people to determine who they have been in contact with. The program will reach out to those contacts about possible exposure. If you have been identified as a contact you will get a call from “NYS Contact Tracing” (518-387-9993). It is important that you answer this number if called. It is confidential and private.
- It is the duty of each County DOH to enforce this interim guidance and the guidance states – “The local health department should be contacted if the extent of contact between an individual and a person suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 is unclear.” A list of County Health Departments is listed here.
- If you believe that you have been exposed to a COVID-19 fire fighter, but are not currently in quarantine, contact your County DOH immediately and provide them with any fire fighter(s) that you have been exposed to.
- Provide NYSPFFA with any information where a municipality or employer is not providing 14 day quarantine to exposed members so we can notify the Governor’s Office and the state DOH, who will then directly follow up with each County DOH to ensure compliance and enforcement.
