Health & Fitness

Worcester Coronavirus: Firefighter Tests Positive

The firefighter and a recruit are in isolation, and many more exposed to them are being tested for coronavirus.

A Worcester firefighter and a firefighter recruit have both tested positive for coronavirus.
A Worcester firefighter and a firefighter recruit have both tested positive for coronavirus. (Neal McNamara/Patch)

WORCESTER, MA — A Worcester firefighter and a firefighter recruit are among the 16 people in the city who have tested positive for the new coronavirus, COVID-19, officials announced on Monday afternoon.

The firefighter and the recruit are both in isolation. Other firefighter recruits and instructors were exposed and are in isolation. Seven firefighters are in isolation and scheduled to be tested because they had contact with the firefighter.

Worcester just began testing first responders, including police and firefighters. As of Monday after, 70 had been tested for COVID-19.

A Boston police officer and an EMS technician in that city have both tested positive. There are also dozens of healthcare workers who have tested positive during the outbreak.

The new positive cases in Worcester come as Massachusetts marks 777 cases statewide — that includes 42 in Worcester County, up from 37 on Sunday.