Reedy Creek Fire Department Experiencing COVID Outbreak Among Employees
With COVID-19 cases on the rise in Florida, the Reedy Creek Fire Department, the fireman that keep Walt Disney World guest safe are reporting that they are currently experiencing a COVID outbreak.
The agency is also being vocal about the lack of support at the department for first responders who have an increased risk of being exposed the virus. This is according to union representing Reedy Creek who recently spoke to The Orlando Sentinel.
According to Jon Shirey, President of the Reedy Creek Firefighters Association, 90 firefighters and paramedics out of the 205 people on staff have been exposed to the coronavirus in the past two weeks. So far 10 have contracted COVID.
In addition, two of those that were already vaccinated were among the 10 that contracted the virus.
According to the piece in the Sentinel, the employees at the Fire Department do not receive workers compensation for COVID-19 claims and must take personal leave or sick days if they need to quarantine. As a result, it is feared that many of those that should be staying home are coming to work which increases the risk to fellow works and resort guests.
Shirey told the Sentinel, “If we’re sick or hurt we can’t help the people that we’re supposed to be serving.”
reedycreek.org
However, Eryka Washing, communications director at Reedy Creek Improvement District contested the COVID cases and exposures that the fire department is reporting. However Washing would not comment on the agency’s sick leave policy.
Disney World is referring the issue to Reedy Creek for comment.
Firefighters that have COVID-19 symptoms are required to use their personal time (sick leave or vacation) for quarantining. For those that should test positive they can use workers’ comp until getting a doctor’s order to return to work.
However, Tonya A. Oliver a rights attorney for first responders told the Sentinel that more than 10 Reedy Creek employees have turned in workers comp claims and have been denied outright. “Workers’ compensation is denying these benefits because it’s almost impossible to prove where the COVID exposure occurred,” she said.
However Oliver did go on to say that some cases have been resolved with settlement payments for some Reedy Creek employees. This is a story that we’ll continue to follow closely. Readers are encouraged to keep following along with us for further news and updates.
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Source: Orlando Sentinel
