Quarantines Take Toll on Athens First Responders

Quarantines Take Toll on Athens First Responders

Squad.

New tonight - six first responders in athens are currently in quarantine due to covid-19 we sent waay 31's max cohan to talk with city leaders about keeping the public safe... while also helping police and firefighters impacted by the virus..

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Max..

The city of athens -- like many others around the state -- has had its fair share of coronavirus cases in all city departments...today mayor ronnie marks said he feels the city has handled things very well to this point..

"we're in a crisis, we're in a crisis situation, every city and county right now with numbers going up is in a crisis situation."

In athens -- mayor ronnie marks says there are very strict coronavirus guidelines that city employees are expected to follow...masking, sanitizing and distancing are the major points for all... marks says that first responders are expected to wear protective gear on every call and says that if employees are impacted the city is notified immediately.stat ions are sanitized and quarantines often follow..

"if we know that they are around them within a certain period of time, and there's so many variables to this, you really oftentimes don't know what to do, you know, how far do you go back to quarantine people, but you answer you yes.

We're moving folks around."

According to the mayor, the city hasn't had to hire any new employees during this period, but shifts for many first responders have been moved to ensure adequate staffing and marks says they will keep their options open.

"well, i'm comfortable, but i'm not comfortable enough to say 'hey, we got this,' i can tell you it is our concern and it will continue to be, again, until we see this curve flatten and start being reduced."

Mayor marks compared the situation to disaster training... he says you put a procedure in place and