Over 1,000 NYPD Officers Have Tested Positive for COVID-19

(Photo by John Nacion/NurPhoto)

This number arrives as New York handles the highest number of cases of the deadly virus in the U.S.

Over 1,000 New York City police officers have contracted COVID-19, this number surfaces as New York copes with the largest number of cases in the U.S.

According to an NBC News report, of the New York Police Department’s more than 36,000 employees 1,048 officers and 145 civilian employees have tested positive for COVID-19. Additionally, the NYPD shared 5,657 uniformed officers called out of work sick on Tuesday. In New York alone, 83,712 confirmed cases have hit the state per a report by the Intelligencer. 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo released the following statement in regards to the looming numbers: “I am worried about essential workers getting scared and not wanting to show up. That I am worried about. You know the number of police officers who are getting sick is going up.”

On top of the aforementioned numbers, officials from the Fire Department of New York told NBC News on Tuesday that a total of 282 members had also tested positive for COVID-19. This includes firefighters, EMTs and civilians. Alongside this, 911 calls are currently on the rise. The call volume is hitting record daily highs according to the Fire Department. 

6,527 medical calls to 911 were placed on Monday. NBC News reports over the past few days, the FDNY has had to “hold” hundreds of calls. Lower priority sick calls have had to wait for ambulances. 

PBA President Patrick Lynch shared a statement on the current pandemic:

“No matter how this pandemic progresses, New York City police officers will remain on the front lines and will continue to carry out our duties protecting New Yorkers. The NYPD has not done enough to ensure that all of our members have protective equipment such as masks and gloves, nor does it have adequate supplies of that equipment to weather a prolonged outbreak.”

The current number of cases of COVID-19 in New York City is 43,119. It has killed at least 1,139 people according to an ABC affiliate. On Tuesday, Cuomo noted he would send New York state police to assist the sick NYPD officers if necessary. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio expressed some infected officers have already begun recovering and that healthy officers will “pick up some overtime” until the sick officers are back to work.