The Fire Service wants secured housing for officers accidentally exposed to COVID-19 patients. This was revealed by Fire and Ambulance Service Chief Josiah Dupuis who stated that a proposal regarding this development has been submitted to the government for consideration. He emphasized that the isolation centre will be for first responders who accidentally get exposed while stabilizing or transporting a coronavirus patient.
Dupuis gave a few instances where fire and ambulance officers had been accidentally exposed to suspected COVID-19 patients who later turned out negative. In one case, two officers had their personal protective equipment compromised while attending to a suspected coronavirus case; and in another instance, two officers transported a patient who later died.
All the suspected cases turned out negative to COVID-19 but the officers who handled them were very concerned that they may have become infected. So they were first isolated at the fire station and then later at their homes with constant fear of spreading the disease to their families. Dupuis said a dedicated facility to isolate first responders who fear they have been exposed to the virus while handling others would be ideal.
For persons who have either been compromised…or just by virtue by the number of Covid-related calls to which the officer may have responded and their easing concern about having to return home. We continue to have discussions about this. Some of those ideas have been submitted [to the government] for consideration.
Josiah Dupuis: Fire and Ambulance Service Chief
Meanwhile, the government has completed another COVID-19 centre in Portsmouth. The 18-bed facilitiy is constructed within the vicinity of St. James building; and the first COVID-19 centre remains operational in Roseau. Health Minister Irving McIntyre said he is grateful to everyone who contributed to make the construction of the facility a success.
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