Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw is under self-quarantine after an employee assigned to her office tested positive for COVID-19. According to officials, Outlaw was informed on November 12 and has been “following all protocols,” including working remotely.
“Despite a rising number of cases of COVID-19 in Philadelphia, PPD remains confident in its ability to provide adequate staffing levels to maintain the public safety that our city deserves and expects,” a city spokesperson told Action News on Thursday.
According to a nbcphiladelphia report, some officers are hospitalized and many more are quarantining after exposure, causing concern for the Philadelphia Police Union.
“We have a couple in the hospital. We have a number quarantining. Even here in our building we’ve had a number of people that are out with it,” said John McNesby, who heads the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, the officers’ labor group.
Commissioner Danielle Outlaw has said she is confident the department can maintain staffing levels in the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can read: Pennsylvania emphasizes use of contact tracing to fight COVID-19
Due to positive COVID-19 cases and the need to quarantine, the Gun Permits Units closed to the public on Wednesday and is not expected to reopen until December 7.
Sanitized and deep cleaned
The department said all facilities where COVID-19 infected staffs were present would be sanitized and deep cleaned.
McNesby mentioned that during the pandemic, officers responded to protests and large gatherings. That poses several risks, he noted, like being in a crowd, some of whom may not have been wearing masks.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed 7,126 additional positive cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the statewide total to 288,978. This is the highest daily increase in cases.
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