Scottsdale first responders monitored after contact with coronavirus patient

PHOENIX — Scottsdale first responders who evaluated a patient in the past week who later tested positive for coronavirus are being closely monitored and kept off the job, the city confirmed Thursday.

Scottsdale officials said a four-person fire crew and two-person ambulance crew helped assist the man, who was transported to a local hospital.

Once the positive case was confirmed, the six first responders were placed in social distancing protocol as a precautionary measure, the city said.

The first responders are expected to stay at home, stay away from others in the home, avoid sharing household items and more for 12-14 days as part of the protocol.

One Scottsdale Fire employee has already been cleared to return to work. None of the first responders have shown symptoms of the illness, the city said.

State health officials confirmed a presumptive coronavirus case on Tuesday.

That followed a confirmed case from last month, the state’s first, involving an member of the Arizona State University community. That person has since been cleared.

“Emergency medical responders and health care institutions are trained and equipped to respond to infectious diseases,” the city of Scottsdale said in a statement.

“Because the personnel involved followed standard practices and procedures to limit exposure to contagions, there is no cause for concern among anyone else who they subsequently may have cared for.”

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, 36 people in the state as of Thursday morning have been tested for COVID-19 with six cases pending, one confirmed positive, one presumptive positive and 28 negative.

The state health department started in-house, same-day coronavirus testing on Monday.

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