VIDEO: https://bit.ly/MayorRequestsTests

Mayor Joseph P. Ganim
Bridgeport, CT

For Immediate Release                                                                            
April 13, 2020                                                                               

For More Information:
Josue Jorge: 203-576-7201

MAYOR GANIM REQUESTS COVID-19 TESTING FOR BRIDGEPORT FIRST RESPONDERS

Bridgeport, CT - Mayor Ganim is requesting access to serological COVID-19 tests for police, fire, and EOC public safety officers, so those who test negative can return to their diligent work responding to emergencies and calls for assistance in our community.

During Mayor Ganim’s Virtual Town Hall, he reviewed the number of Bridgeport Police officer and Firefighters currently in quarantine due to possible exposure to coronavirus. Currently, there are 11 personnel off duty from the Police Department and 22 from the Fire Department-- a total of thirty-three officers quarantined due to potential exposure; work-related, personal or via family member(s). Due to the number of the city’s essential public safety staff that have been quarantined,  Mayor Ganim stated, “We cannot put our city in a potential position where emergency response is strained due to lack of personnel.  It is critical that we secure testing for Bridgeport’s bravest and finest to ensure our public safety departments can efficiently and effectively respond.”

The City of Bridgeport looks forward to working with the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health to secure and provide serological tests for first responders across the state.  The tests rely on detecting antibodies in a blood sample that will confirm or deny the presence of Coronavirus, and produce results in as few as 10 minutes, eliminating the need to quarantine officers and firefighters for 14 days.    

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