Four San Jose firefighters have tested positive for coronavirus and dozens more from the department are on leave.
City officials and the firefighters’ union confirmed three cases Thursday afternoon, just hours after city and county representatives announced the department's first case in a morning press conference.
That firefighter has been hospitalized in another city and it is not known how he contracted the virus.
Several family members of the affected firefighters have also tested positive or shown symptoms, officials said.
Two more firefighters have been ordered to self-isolate while they wait for test results and more than 50 have been placed on administrative leave because of possible exposure to the virus.
“It is our role to make sure that the community and our workforce are safe and those are the steps we are taking,” San Jose City Manager Dave Sykes said Thursday morning.
Stations with a potential exposure to the virus will be temporarily closed, disinfected and deep cleaned while the displaced firefighters are relocated to another station, according to the city and the union.
Officials said that emergency personnel are at particular risk of exposure to the virus, therefore local agencies need to take extra precautions.
“For firefighters, this includes special communicable disease training, personal protective equipment and decontamination procedures,” said San Jose Assistant Fire Chief Reggie Williams.
Santa Clara County public health officials had confirmed 48 positive coronavirus cases in the county, as of Wednesday night, including the Bay Area's only death so far due to the virus.
“We are fighting a battle here and we need everybody in our community to participate,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, who urged the public to follow CDC guidelines.