*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***

MARCH 16, 2020

Attention Bayport residents,  

Our crews remain available to respond to emergencies but we are asking you to please follow these precautions during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak.

If you are quarantined (mandatory or self-imposed) in your home due to possible or confirmed COVID-19 exposure, PLEASE be sure to specify this to the dispatcher when calling 911 or 631-472-4411 for medical or other emergencies.

We also ask that you place a sign/note on your front door to alert our firefighters to take infection-prevention precautions before entering your home or business.

We need to protect our crews so that they may remain able to meet the emergency needs of our community.

Elsewhere, there have been entire fire companies quarantined after they have responded to quarantined homes and were not alerted before entering. Those first responders are now unavailable to help anyone for at least 14 days.

In our department we cannot afford to have this happen and being volunteers we do not want to have to take it home to our families.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

-Chief Jerry Dietz

Recently, a new coronavirus - 2019 Novel (New) Coronavirus - was detected in China that has not been previously found in humans. This coronavirus can lead to fever, cough and shortness of breath. There are thousands of confirmed cases in China, including cases outside of Wuhan and additional cases being identified in a growing number of countries internationally, including the United States. There are ongoing investigations to learn more about this virus.