NYPD Commissioner, Dermot Shea, has confirmed that 177 police officers and 34 civilian members of the department have tested positive for COVID-19.
On Tuesday, March 24th, 2,774 police officers called out sick, more than 7 percent of the force. Shea has said that the NYPD is taking action by providing a panel of doctors deciding who should stay at home while increasing the cleaning of facilities and staggering work schedules. While the police union claims that the NYPD has failed to provide an adequate amount of cleaning supplies and protective equipment, Shea has said that the department is good for now.
"The NYPD is extremely concerned for the well-being of officers as they continue to be on the front lines of the City’s coronavirus response. Since the outbreak began, the NYPD has distributed over 204,000 pairs of gloves, 75,000 N95 masks, 340,000 surgical masks and distributed 125,000 alcohol wipes and hand sanitizer to employees," the department says in a statement to the press.
Since the coronavirus outbreak began, crime is actually down in New York City, but ambulance calls are up. The NYPD is continuing to monitor public locations on citywide patrols to ensure that individuals are practicing proper social distancing. The NYPD is also analyzing sick calls on a case-by-case basis. They are putting officers showing symptoms in quarantine as well as any officers who have come into close contact with individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19.
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