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At the same time, ambulance calls are skyrocketing.

On Thursday, EMS received more than 6,000 calls. EMS lieutenant Vincent Variale, who also heads a supervisors’ union, said, “We’ve broken every call volume record we’ve ever seen before.”

Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro on Friday asked the public to avoid making 911 calls except in real emergencies.

Marshall said even those ambulance workers who had tested positive for the coronavirus were being asked to work unless they show symptoms.

At times in recent days, up to 400 calls at a time deemed less serious had simply been left on hold, Variale said.

Photo by Stefan Jeremiah/Reuters

The number of EMS personnel out sick is increasing and may soon reach 30 per cent, multiple EMS officials said, which would lead to a serious decline in ambulance services.

Marshall noted that the EMS has to deal with the crush of COVID-19 cases at the same time it must handle its normal workload of patients suffering from heart attacks, strokes and broken bones. The crisis is taking an emotional toll on EMS personnel.

Anthony Almojera, a Fire Department lieutenant and supervisor who goes out on EMS calls, said that even though he is a veteran, things he has seen since the pandemic hit New York have had a deep emotional impact.

For example, he said he and an ambulance team responded to a call concerning a woman in cardiac arrest. When they arrived, they were unable to resuscitate her.

He said the woman’s husband was standing at the front door crying. Almojera added that normally he would go over to a surviving husband or wife, “say I’m sorry for your loss,” hug the relative and let them cry.