Joint Statement

March 18, 2020 

The three unions representing all FDNY EMS First Responders met with FDNY leadership yesterday to discuss the Departments response to COVID-19. Different parts of the country are seeing different levels of COVID-19 activity; however New York is experiencing a sustained community spread of the virus. This means that many people have been infected with the virus in our area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected. 

As a result of sustained community spread of COVID-19, members will only be quarantined by the Bureau of Health Services if they have a high risk exposure to COVID-19. That means that most exposures will not result in quarantine and members will continue to work as determined by the Bureau of Health Services.  

Accordingly, the FDNY leadership has announced a mandatory self-monitoring program for all members of the Department. This will involve on duty asymptomatic members checking for five known COVID-19 symptoms each day. Members will input their results twice a day in an application on a smart phone or through the internet; once at the beginning of their tour and once at the end of their tour. If a member confirms having any of the symptoms, they must not report to work and are to contact the Bureau of Health Services to make a determination for medical leave. Those symptomatic members will self-monitor at home and input their results once per day. The unions are working with the Office of Labor Relations and the Department to ensure that all medical leave will be an excused absence, not chargeable to leave balances. Off duty members are strongly encouraged to self-monitor and input their results once per day. Members who are asymptomatic will continue to self-monitor and report to work.  

All members of the Department have been documented as exposed to COVID-19 through the MDX-3 Biological exposure form and there is no further need to document exposure, however members can elect to file individually. 

FDNY EMS is leading the charge in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our members are on the frontlines, risking their lives regardless of the dangers. The public is relying on the Emergency Medical Service now, more than ever. Together we will succeed. 

In solidarity,