Three Hollister firefighters are on a 14-day quarantine after responding to the scene where a local man died of complications from coronavirus.
The firefighters joined two AMR responders at the scene and took part in CPR procedures to try and resuscitate the man in his 60s who had underlying health conditions. The patient died the morning of March 16.
Fire Chief Bob Martin Del Campo confirmed the crews performed three rounds of CPR. The chief said those firefighters, through an assessment, were aware the man had underlying health conditions and that he had traveled out of the country to Thailand. When they returned to the fire station, they “were cognizant of the fact they may have been exposed.”
The chief pointed out the firefighters had been wearing protective gear – such as goggles, masks and latex gloves – and they discarded those items and decontaminated all the equipment.
When authorities confirmed the man had been infected with coronavirus, the chief relieved them of their duties and put them on a 14-day quarantine. They will remain on quarantine even if the test comes back negative “just to be safe,” he said.
The firefighters were tested and await the results, but will remain on quarantine either way.
AMR could not be reached immediately regarding those responders.
With the coronavirus threat, Martin Del Campo said the department would continue using heightened precautions while servicing the community.
“Continuity of service is paramount,” he said. “The Hollister Fire Department is going to absolutely do what the community expects us to do.”
