A New York City Fire Department report dated March 27 to FDNY Chief of Operations Thomas Richardson leaked online describes a follow-up to an “unusual occurrence” in Brooklyn’s Borough Park neighborhood that relates to a New York City firefighter who was allegedly sneezed on by a local teenager and later contracted the COVID-19 virus.
According to the report, on March 18 a firefighter from Brooklyn’s Engine 282 responded to a call at 947 47th St. As the firefighter was checking the hydrant in the area, he was approached by three Hasidic Jewish boys who taunted him and asked if he was scared of the coronavirus.
“After repeated attempts to keep distance from the boys, one of them sneezed into his face and they ran off,” according to the report.
The report notes that four days after the incident, the firefighter from the scene started to feel flu-like symptoms and made on appointment to be tested for the coronavirus. On March 24, he was placed on leave while waiting for his results and found out he tested positive for the virus on March 27.
“Although we will not be able to tell if this positive COVID-19 test result is a direct outcome of the previous incident, what we do know is the continued lack of disregard by the citizens of Boro Park for the State of Emergency policy set forth by the City and State of New York,” the report states. “In a time when personal space and social distancing is on an all-time high, it’s going to take a cumulative effort from everyone to defeat this Virus, including the residents of Boro Park.”
Although an FDNY source confirmed to the Washington Examiner that the incident occurred, an FDNY spokesman refused to comment about the veracity of the report.
“There’s nothing in that report that I can confirm,” an FDNY press spokesman said.
