Alameda Firefighter Tests Positive For Coronavirus

ALAMEDA, CA — An Alameda Firefighter has tested positive for the new coronavirus, COVID-19, according to Sarah Henry, spokesperson for the City of Alameda.

The unnamed firefighter has gone into isolation, and an investigation is underway to identify anyone who came into close personal contact with them recently. This includes checking to see what calls the firefighter went on recently, possibly exposing members of the public as well as other firefighters and first responders.

"The City is also taking extra precautions to protect the health and safety of our employees and the community," Henry said, in a release to the community. "We are increasing the frequency and level of cleaning at our facilities, including at all City fire stations, cancelling or postponing large City-sponsored events, deploying hand sanitizer stations at key locations across Alameda, and promoting recommended actions to slow the spread of COVID-19 to employees and residents."

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The World Health Organization declared new coronavirus a global pandemic on Wednesday.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019 is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was confirmed Jan. 21.

The disease, which apparently originated in animals, is now transferring from person to person, although the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Its symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, and many patients develop pneumonia. There is as yet no vaccine against COVID-19 and no antiviral treatment.

According to the CDC, the best way to prevent the disease is to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available.

To avoid spreading any respiratory illness, the CDC recommends staying at home if you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.
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