HEALTH

SLC police confirm two more employees test positive for COVID-19

UPDATED: MAY 7, 2020 AT 11:15 AM

(Adam Fondren, KSL, File)

BY BECKY BRUCE
News Director

SALT LAKE CITY — Two Salt Lake City police officers who also serve as first responders tested positive for COVID-19, the department said in a news release Thursday.

According to the release, the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Health and Safety Office will start conducting contact tracing. Both officers and around 20 other department employees are being quarantined, working from home until medical professionals say they are cleared to return.

“Early on, we put policies and procedures in place to not only protect our employees but to also ensure we could still perform our duties without interruption,” Chief Mike Brown said in the statement. “While these new positive cases have not required us to implement any of our plans, we feel confident we can continue to conduct our duties to the community without interruption.”

Brown said the department would move detectives into first responder roles if needed, though that does not appear to be necessary yet.

“We continue to do everything possible to protect our employees and ensure the health and safety of our officers and the community,” he said.

How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus

COVID-19 coronavirus spreads person to person. It is a virus that is similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:

Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
Don’t touch your face.
Keep children and those with compromised immune systems away from someone who is coughing or sneezing (in this instance, at least six feet)
If there is an outbreak near you, practice social distancing (stay at home, instead of going to the movies, sports events, or other activities.)
Get a flu shot.