By Kayla Simas
Staten Island Advance, N.Y.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — More than 20% of the New York Police Department was out sick Thursday due to coronavirus (COVID-19), the Post reported.
The NYPD received 7,270 sick calls — the most for any day in 2021 and similar to the amounts seen at the beginning of the pandemic in April 2020, sources told the Post.
Nearly 2,600 members of the NYPD have tested positive for coronavirus this month, sources said.
The Post reported that the NYPD is requiring officers who had regularly scheduled days off to work over the holiday weekend.
On Wednesday, the Daily News reported that 30% of the city’s EMS members and 17% of its firefighters were out sick.
FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said the reduced workforce has “stressed” the department’s ranks.
This came as the FDNY shared messages on Twitter asking residents to only call 911 if they are experiencing a medical need, adding that ambulances do not provide testing for COVID-19.
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