CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Some Chicago firefighters and paramedics will now be tested for the coronavirus before and after their shifts.
Firefighters are in a unique situation, living in close quarters, and then with their families - working 24 hours on and 48 off shifts.
At least nine Chicago Fire Department members at one firehouse at 71st and Parnell have tested positive for COVID-19, and there may be more. There are other so-called "hot" firehouses, which is prompting the city and CFD to start shift change testing, as a way to keep it from spreading as department cases keep rising.
"I just got off the phone with the city, and they said that the fastest these results could be back in three or four days, and if they are hot, they're going to be ordered to stay home," Firefighter Local 2 President Jim Tracy told CBS 2.
In addition to firehouse testing, effective this week, all CFD firefighters are required to wear masks.
"These are our members that are getting sick, and we don't know how many of our own members are sick. We don't know how many it's spread between. We don't know, we could be infecting the public," Tracy said.
Currently, a CFD spokesperson said 151 department members have tested positive for COVID-19. Tracy said 82 of those are recovered and back to work, and 31 members are in self-quarantine.
A firefighter said recently superiors told him they didn't want members tested, unless they had symptoms, because they feared there could be staffing issues.
Chicago firefighters and paramedics will now be tested randomly for the coronavirus before and after shifts. A fire department spokesperson said the tests will be given at two firehouses Thursday, but couldn't say which ones or if and when testing will continue at other firehouses.
