Six firefighters with the Sanford Fire Department have tested positive for COVID-19, the City of Sanford confirmed today.
All six are currently recovering at home, in isolation, the city reported. The city did not release the names of the six firefighters, nor did they release their current medical condition.
The news today comes as Lee County is experiencing a new surge in positive cases. On Monday, the county reported 78 new positive tests in the past week. The week before that, 106 new cases were confirmed. The county had been experiencing anywhere between 40 and 60 new cases per week over the past few months. The number of active cases in Lee County currently sits at 227, and overall, 1,824 people have tested positive for COVID-19 locally since April.
Additionally, the county reported that a 16th resident died last week from complications related to the virus.
All employees of Sanford’s three fire stations are currently being tested, according to the city. The department is working with the Lee County Health Department for testing and contact tracing. All three fire stations have been cleaned and sanitized, and each station is sanitized again at shift change.
“One of my highest priorities is the safety and health of all Fire Department employees,” Fire Chief Wayne Barber said in a press release Thursday. “The Sanford Fire Department follows and exceeds, where possible, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines while providing emergency services to our community.”
All fire stations are experiencing a reduction in staff due to employee quarantines, but the City does not anticipate any disruption to service delivery.
The reason we have such a high number of cases is because Sanford has so many illiterates who don’t read or understand what they r seeing or hearing. Area code 23772 had the most cases in the state! And others who r educated just refuse to wear masks even small business owners or manacarolgers at small chain stores.
Obviously “ Area code 23772 has so many illiterates who don’t read or understand what they r seeing or hearing”. Sure glad we don’t reside there.
I googled the word manacarolgers to make sure that I wasn’t illiterate and google says I wasn’t. So glad I don’t reside in area code 23772.
You can wear a mask all day and still get it. Eventually everyone will get it. Herd immunity is our best option.
The masks do not stop the transmission of the virus, they just reduce the viral load. You must replace or wash frequently. You must social distance and limit your social interactions to 15 minutes. People wearing masks are getting the virus also.
What do you think viral load is? The more viral particles that get into the lungs the greater the potential for the disease to occur in the body
It is okay with you if I cough in your face? Just once-not for 15 minutes.
Have you not been out shopping to see how close people are in the check out lanes in most stores? That is our reality.
I fear for the essential workers that are in the same location for hours. The shopper gets to move on.
There is still so much we don’t know about this disease.
Wear a mask….we know for a FACT that won’t kill you.
I totally take offense to being labeled illiterate!!!
I’m a small business owner in sanford “27330/27332”
For over 20 years , we have very educated people here.
So the next time you speak your mind , speak for yourself…
I wear a mask 10/11 hours a day 5/6 days a week …
I have respect for the person or people in front of me …
Sanford or “27332” has very good people who live and
work here ……
The point is do not harp on the masks. You have to do everything to beat the virus. Masks alone will not work.