By Bill Carey
EMS1
NEW YORK — The FDNY issued a policy requiring all fire and EMS personnel to wear masks while treating patients due to an increase in COVID-19 and other respiratory virus cases.
The policy, also directed at voluntary hospital ambulance personnel, states that anyone who provides treatment before the patient arrives at the hospital must wear a surgical mask, though an N95 mask is preferred, WABC reported.
An increase in COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus cases led to the policy being issued.
The FDNY policy follows a policy issued earlier this month for all 11 of the city’s public hospitals after an increase in the same virus cases.