As the coronavirus spreads through the region, 16 Prince George’s County Fire & EMS Department members are under self quarantine “out of an abundance of caution” after encountering individuals with the disease, according to county Fire Chief Tiffany Green announced March 18, 2020.
“That number will continue to fluctuate in the coming days,” wrote Green.
Fire officials said on Twitter the possible exposures occurred in both work and non-work-related situations.
“None of our members have tested positive for COVID-19,” fire officials said on Twitter.
“We are in close consultation with the Prince George’s County Department of Health on every call where we come in contact with a patient who is exhibiting signs or symptoms similar to that of COVID-19,” reads Greens announcement, posted on Prince George’s County Nextdoor sites. “Additionally, we are cleaning and disinfecting our stations, our equipment, and our vehicles in accordance with current federal, state, and local recommendations. We are routinely checking all of our first responders’ temperatures as an additional layer of protection and safety and we decontaminate our patient transport vehicles per protocols.
Meanwhile, six members of Seat Pleasant’s City Council are under a similar possible coronavirus self-quarantine after taking part a Washington, D.C., “smart city” conference where an attendee later tested positive for the disease, city officials announced March 18, 2020.
On March 17, 2020, National League of Cities officials said that two attendees at the Congressional City Conference, held March 8-11, 2020, tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The two were active participants in the conference, attending general sessions and workshops alongside the six Seat Pleasant Councilmembers in attendance. The Seat Pleasant City Council members – who were not identified in city press releases – join a group of hundreds of city officials now spread across the United States who are under voluntarily self quarantine after attending the conference. The list includes officials from Memphis to Boise to Wichita and everywhere inbetween.
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