50 Police, 16 Fire Department Employees Positive For Coronavirus

CHICAGO — As of Monday, 50 police officers have tested positive for the new coronavirus, and about 800 employees have called in sick, a police spokesman said.

The number of police officers and civilian workers on sick leave Monday amounts to about 6 percent of the department's nearly 14,000 employees, officials said. A police spokeswoman said the number of officers out on sick has not risen to the level that would be considered out of the normal range of medical use.

Fraternal Order of Police President Kevin Graham said the union has asked members who are feeling ill to to take medical leave.

"Certainly, if people are feeling ill, if they're not sure, they should stay at home, get checked out and then, as we've seen over the weekend when people realize they're going to be OK, they return to work," he said. "So, a slight uptick in what we have asked them to do, there is nothing wrong with."

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she's grateful that first responders who are feeling ill are abiding by the rule that "if you're sick, stay home."

As of Tuesday, 16 firefighters and paramedics have tested positive for COVID-19, a fire department spokesman said.

Lightfoot announced Tuesday that the city has partnered with a South Loop hotel to give police officers, firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers and 911 operators a place to go after their shifts in an attempt to protect their families from possibly contracting the virus. The hotel will also provide meals and free parking.

Starting later this week, first responders in direct contact with the public can stay at Hotel Essex rather than going home to possibly expose others to COVID-19. The hotel rooms, available on a first-come, first-served basis, are not intended for people who have tested positive for the virus.

"Our health care professionals and first responders have been working around the clock and putting their lives on the line to tackle this crisis and keep our city safe," Lightfoot said. "Just as they've been supporting us, we need to support them. I want to thank our hotel partners for stepping up once again for Chicago during our hour of need. Now is the time for all of us to work together to save lives and get our city back on track."

Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 President Jim Tracy said access to the hotel rooms is a "huge relief" to union members.

"This is a fantastic weight off a lot of our spouses' shoulders knowing that there's someplace their husband, wife can go to and not have to come home after a long day," he said.