Hawaii Fire Department Chief Darren Rosario said Monday that all personnel forced into quarantine after being exposed to an active-duty employee and a recruit who tested positive for COVID-19 have returned to work.
Hawaii Fire Department Chief Darren Rosario said Monday that all personnel forced into quarantine after being exposed to an active-duty employee and a recruit who tested positive for COVID-19 have returned to work.
On Sept. 6, Rosario announced that 30 personnel from Hilo-, Puna-, and Kona-based stations had been ordered quarantined due to work-related contact with the two individuals during necessary emergency medical technician training.
The two individuals were notified after the training that they were a close contact to a person who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to Rosario. Both cases were unrelated.
“All personnel were negative and have since returned to work following the quarantine period,” Rosario said. “We are hopeful that the community numbers keep getting better so that some of the restrictions can be lifted in our County and State.”
The positive test among an active-duty employee of the fire department was the second since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In early August, a West Hawaii battalion chief tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The positive test resulted in four other personnel being quarantined until each received a negative test and were allowed to return to work.
