NewsCoronavirus

Actions

Petersburg firefighter awaits COVID-19 test results

Posted at 5:11 PM, Mar 25, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-26 00:28:09-04

PETERSBURG, Va. -- A Petersburg firefighter who fell ill after returning home from a cruise is now awaiting a COVID-19 test results.

The firefighter returned to work at Fire Station 2, on Market Street in Petersburg, for one shift prior to experiencing flu-like symptoms.

Now some co-workers are concerned that they've been exposed to the virus.

"We've got a number of people that are new parents, they're going to become parents, they've had concerns," Petersburg Fire Division Chief Kevin Michalek said. "We gave them the option to let them go home on sick leave with their families."

To help ensure the health of other firefighters, Petersburg Fire initiated a pre-screening procedure on Wednesday.

"We're sending them to Station 5, which is Johnson Road and they are doing pre-screening in the morning before they report to their duty station," Petersburg Fire Deputy Chief Bobby Harvell said.

Fire officials said, at this point, response time should not be impacted.

"We are operating as normal," Petersburg Fire Division Chief Mark Milazzo said.

This sick firefighter should get the COVID-19 test results back Thursday or Friday.