Coronavirus Update: Sacramento Metro Firefighter Tests Positive For COVID-19

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A Sacramento Metro firefighter has tested positive for coronavirus after caring for a patient who had the virus.

The fire department said this employee who tested positive was part of a team that responded to a 911 call and transported a patient to a local emergency department. A few days after the call, Metro Fire was notified that the patient had tested positive for COVID-19.

The employee went home after developing symptoms and was tested for COVID-19. Their positive test result came back on Tuesday, the department said.

In a press release, the department said this chain of events happened within the last week.

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The firefighter who's now under quarantine may not have been properly protected, and it's unclear after working one day in the field how many people may have been exposed.

"The Sacramento Public Health Department will advise us on whether or not notifications need to or should be made," Captain Chris Vestal said.

Vestal said the exposed firefighter is in good spirits and the department is supporting the victim and his family. All other employees that worked with the employee who tested positive are now monitoring themselves for symptoms.

Metro Fire said the department remains fully staffed, despite this positive COVID-19 test.

Sacramento
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