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NY Post
New York Post
13 Jan 2024


NextImg:FDNY orders all first-responders to mask up amid spike in contagious diseases

The FDNY has ordered all firetruck and ambulance personnel to mask up while rendering patient care due to outbreaks of infectious diseases, The Post has learned.

The department-wide directive, issued Friday, comes amid an increase in COVID-19, flu and respiratory virus cases, officials said.

Effective immediately, all those who provide pre-hospital emergency treatment in NYC must wear a surgical mask, preferably an N95.  

The FDNY last required masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, but relaxed the rule last February after state health officials stopped mandating masks and face coverings inside health care facilities.

The new order applies to firefighters, who are certified first-responders, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and volunteer ambulance staffers.

The FDNY has ordered all firetruck and ambulance personnel to mask up while rendering patient care due to outbreaks of infectious diseases, The Post has learned. Askolds

The order follows a Jan. 1 mask mandate in all 11 NYC public hospitals along with medical clinics and nursing homes run by NYC Health + Hospitals. 

“This is in line with the public hospital mandate to wear masks,”  FDNY spokeswoman Amanda Farinacci said of the new order.

“We offer pre-hospital care. It would make sense to be consistent with what the hospitals where we are bringing our patients are doing.” 

EMS Rescue Medic Paramedics donning N95 masks respond to a high rise fire at 245 E 40th Street Murray Hill Towers amid the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic
The department-wide directive, issued Friday, comes amid an increase in COVID-19, flu and respiratory virus cases, officials said. Taidgh Barron/NY Post

“We are in and out of hospitals all day and night,” agreed Vincent Variale, president of the Uniformed EMS Officers union.

“It’s also good practice to wear a mask when dealing with patients who may have contagious diseases.”

Asked whether the FDNY has enough N95 masks to distribute to all first-responders, spokespersons did not immediately answer.