Swampscott Fire Suffers First Coronavirus Outbreak

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Within the week Swampscott Fire Union president issued a letter to the community criticizing the Board of Selectmen for publicly questioning first responders during the coronavirus health crisis, the department is dealing with an outbreak of COVID-19.

Swampscott Fire Chief Graham Archer confirmed to the Lynn Item that five members of the department — about 15 percent of the 33-member department — were in a mandatory 10-day quarantine for testing positive at the start of the week.

Chief Archer indicated that none of those who tested positive were experiencing significant symptoms.

"After one year of being COVID-free our department could avoid it no longer it despite taking precautions just like everyone else," Swampscott Fire Fighters Local 1459 said on its Facebook page in response to the report. "We wish all our members and their family members a speedy recovery."

The positive cases come within the week that Local 1459 President Jim Snow chastised the Board of Selectmen for creating "tension amongst the community members of the town of Swampscott and the way they view the first responders" in publicly questioning first responders amid the crisis.

The Swampscott Board of Health said Swamspcott first responders were among 706 in Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Salem and Swampscott who received the first shot of the vaccine as of last week. A regional date for all those eligible in phase 1 of the state's vaccination rollout will be held at Salem State University on Thursday.

Under Centers of Disease Control and Prevention projections, first responders who received their first shot of the Moderna vaccine when it was offered this month would not yet have achieved the 94 percent immunity data shows the vaccine provides after a second dose 28 days following the initial dose.

"No member of the public, whether resident or visitor of the town of Swampscott, should feel disheartened by a first responder's decision not to take the Moderna vaccination, every individual has the right to choose," Snow's letter states. "The professionals who answer the call 24 hours a day, seven days a week are making the best possible efforts to keep you and your families safe by practicing the universal precautions in a diligent manner."

Chief Archer told the Lynn Item he did get the first vaccine shot and that about 60 percent of the department had taken advantage of that opportunity.

More Patch Coverage: Swampscott Fire Union Bristles At Vaccination Questions

Salem State To Host Regional Phase 1 Coronavirus Vaccination Day