Pittsburgh firefighter recovers from coronavirus, returns to work

The Pittsburgh firefighter who tested positive for covid-19 two weeks ago has recovered and returned to work, the city’s Public Safety department said Friday.

The firefighter started having symptoms of the coronavirus on March 27 and immediately went into self-isolation. He tested positive April 1, but never required hospitalization, officials said.

Seven other Pittsburgh firefighters also went into self-isolation after coming in contact with the infected individual March 26. They have also returned to work, Public Safety announced.

This week, a Pittsburgh Bureau of Police officer and a recruit both tested positive for covid-19. Police have had six total positive tests. One officer required hospitalization and all others are in self-quarantine.

One Environmental Services worker died of covid-19 this week, while a second employee who tested positive has not yet returned to work.

Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said he is optimistic about how the city has protected public safety workers. Contact tracing has been conducted in all cases, and personnel have been issued personal protective equipment and masks. First responders are also screened for fever before entering facilities and social distancing is observed whenever possible.

“Other departments have seen 10, 15, even 20% of their personnel become ill, but we have so far avoided anything like that,” Hissrich said in a statement. “This virus is volatile and dangerous, but we have implemented numerous measures that we hope will continue to keep our numbers as low as possible.”