8 Long Beach firefighters test positive for COVID-19

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LONG BEACH, Calif. - Eight Long Beach firefighters are self-isolating at home after testing positive for the coronavirus, officials said Wednesday.

The eight firefighters commonly worked at Fire Station 11, located in the 100 block of Market Street. The station is scheduled to undergo a thorough cleaning with required sanitation procedures.

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Those who may have been exposed have been notified by health officials. The test results have prompted a sanitizing effort at the city fire station and
notifications have been sent to people who may have come into contact with them, city officials announced today.

"Our Long Beach firefighters are community heroes, and they have been on the front lines every day of this health crisis,'' Mayor Robert Garcia said in a statement.

"We are doing everything we can to provide support to these firefighters and their families. We recognize the seriousness of this latest development and are committed to doing all that we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Long Beach.''

City officials said they are still investigating how the firefighters were exposed.

The announcement comes the day Los Angeles County officials said there were 799 confirmed coronavirus cases in the county, with an additional three deaths.

Earlier this week two Los Angeles city firefighters also tested positive for COVID-19, they are currently recovering at home.

It was announced Tuesday that two students at Cal State Long Beach tested positive for COVID-19.

On March 9, the city confirmed its first three coronavirus cases.

The City of Long Beach is scheduled to provide a live update at 3 p.m.

City News Service contributed to this report

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