(BEDFORD) – The Bedford Board of Works approved a temporary change to the standard operating procedures for the Bedford Fire Department to deal with COVID-19 illnesses among their ranks.
The change came Monday during the Board of Works meeting.
The normal staffing minimum is nine firefighters per shift, and Bedford Fire Chief John Hughes requested to temporarily change that to eight firefighters while they have members ill with COVID-19.
“We have a total of six firefighters who have been tested. Three of those six tested positive for COVID-19, one will be coming back tomorrow (Tuesday),” according to Hughes.
The city council also approved a temporary COVID-19 policy to help with testing costs, especially for those who test positive for COVID-19, and with family members in the household with positive tests.
Officials did not say how long the new policy will be in effect.
