The Fire Services Department said they have handled a total of 7,557 calls of confirmed Covid cases last year, of which 205 members who responded were subsequently arranged for examination and testing, while 80 others were put under quarantine. The department has issued its 2020 Year-end Review today, saying all members of the department have remained committed to professionalism and steadfast in providing highly effective emergency services to the public, also assisted the Government in implementing quarantine measures amid the Covid pandemic. “The department will keep a vigilant watch over the epidemic and maintain close liaison with public health authorities to do its utmost to assist the Government in fighting the disease,” it wrote. The department also pointed out they have received a total of 33,632 fire calls and 689,788 ambulance calls last year, which recorded a decrease of 10.6 percent and 16.1 percent as against 2019. “In addition, the department will employ more ethnic minorities so that fire safety messages can be brought to their communities more effectively,” the department added.

Source: The Standard March 10, 2021 10:30 UTC