Joliet Fire Department Has 1st Coronavirus Case

JOLIET, IL — A firefighter/paramedic at the Joliet Fire Department has tested positive for the new coronavirus, interim city manager Steve Jones announced Tuesday afternoon. This marks the second confirmed case for a city employee.

Last week, the city announced that a detective at the Joliet Police Department was staying home recovering after being diagnosed with the illness.

As for the new case at the Joliet Fire Department, the firefighter last worked on the job March 30. The following day, the city firefighter "began feeling sick, but assumed it was regular seasonal allergies. The employee was tested on April 1 and the results came back positive," the city said.

The firefighter/paramedic has not been at work since March 30. Now, eight days later, the firefighter currently reports no symptoms. However, the city said that the employee is not being allowed to return to work until April 14.

"The Fire Department has taken the other four members of his crew offline until April 14 as a precaution. It has been eight days since the other crew members last had contact with the effected employee, and none are showing any signs of illness," Jones indicated in his news release.

In the meantime, a deep cleaning of the fire station is being done as a precaution, the city said.

Joliet Fire Chief Greg Blaskey said that in accordance with federal law, the city is not disclosing the employee's identity. And for privacy reasons, the city is not saying which fire station the employee worked at.

The Joliet Fire Department just hired four new firefighters/paramedics this week, bringing the department's total up to 209.

Blaskey told Patch on Tuesday that the Joliet Fire Department has transported at least 30 patients who have been diagnosed with the coronavirus. At this time a week ago, Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk said the firefighter had transported a dozen coronavirus patients to local hospitals.

In related local coronavirus news, state public health officials announced Tuesday that Will County has had another 10 deaths from the illness. On Monday, Will County's Health Department announced nine more people had died since Saturday including a man in his 40s.

Will County now says its total number of coronavirus deaths is at 30 and there have been 888 cases countywide.

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Related:

• Illinois Coronavirus Update April 7: 380 Statewide Deaths
• Sheriff's Deputy, Jail Nurse Each Have Coronavirus
• 3 Coronavirus Deaths At Symphony of Joliet