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Second EMS worker tests positive for COVID-19

02 Aug 2020, 03:24 by Dillon Ancheta · Hawaii News Now

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Honolulu Emergency Medical Services now says two of their employees have contracted COVID-19.

A spokesperson first said Saturday that an employee stationed in the Liliha area was in isolation after testing positive.

The department says despite transporting more than 90 infected patients, it was the first case in which an EMS worker tested positive.

Then on Sunday, another EMS employee was confirmed to be positive. EMS says he is stationed at Pawaa One located on Kapahulu Avenue.

The Acting EMS Chief put out a plea to the public, reminding people to wear a mask and practice social distancing.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, EMS paramedics and EMTs have risked their own and their families safety to continue to provide emergency medical care to our community,” Acting Chief of EMS Chris Sloman said. “Please only call EMS for life-threatening medical emergencies, while utilizing alternative resources if experiencing flu like symptoms,”

Eleven Paramedics and EMTs including the infected employees are now in quarantine.