Coronavirus case at Brooklyn firehouse quarantines 31 firefighters

March 14, 2020 Mary Frost

FDNY firefighters answer a call about riders trapped on an A train at the High Street subway station in September, 2019. Photo: Mary Frost/Brooklyn Eagle

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Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that a member of the FDNY who works at a firehouse in Brooklyn has been confirmed to have the novel coronavirus.

“The member worked from Sunday through Tuesday, went home on Tuesday with symptoms … tested positive late yesterday.”

While on duty, the member did not respond to any medical runs or treat any patients, the mayor said. As a matter of precaution, 31 members of the affected firehouse were quarantined immediately. Other members of the house who were not in direct contact with the firefighter will take over the operations.

“It’s being cleaned right now,” de Blasio said. “The firehouse will be fully operational and up and running at full capacity” by 6 p.m. Saturday, the mayor added.

An 82-year-old Brooklyn woman was the first in the city to die after contracting the novel coronavirus. The patient had a preexisting emphysema diagnosis. She died Friday at Wyckoff Medical Center in Bushwick.

As of 10 a.m. on Saturday, there were 183 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in New York City. That is 29 newly reported cases since late Friday afternoon.

As of Friday evening, 30 people had been admitted to area hospitals, and of that 30, 19 were in intensive care units, de Blasio said. Of those those hospitalized, approximately 80 percent are over 50 years old and/or have pre-existing medical conditions.