Eight GTA firefighters now test positive for COVID-19

Thestar.com
March 30, 2020
Tom Yun

The union representing firefighters in Toronto reported Sunday that six of its firefighters have tested positive for COVID-19.

The Toronto Professional Firefighters Association initially tweeted on Sunday that five members were known to be positive, but association president Frank Ramagnano later clarified to the Star that the total was six.

“Currently we have six firefighters that have tested positive for COVID-19. The sixth positive test came in this morning. They were already under self-isolation (after) having contact with a previous positive-testing firefighter,” Ramagnano said Sunday.

Beyond Toronto, the virus is also impacting fire departments elsewhere in the GTA -- the Oakville Professional Firefighters Association tweeted that one of its members had tested positive for the virus, and a City of Mississauga spokesperson confirmed that a Mississauga firefighter had done the same.

A Mississauga fire station was also closed for deep cleaning and the fire department has put in place a screening process to ensure that employees are not reporting to work while exhibiting symptoms.