The NYPD is preparing cops for 12-hour shifts and making plans to place investigators back on patrol to deal with the rapidly growing number of officers who have reported out sick due to coronavirus, a source exclusively told DailyMail.com.

Though the number of cops on leave is not publicly available, a police source said there may be as many as 1,800 police officers not reporting for work because of coronavirus and other reasons. The number is expected to swell in the coming weeks.

If the number reaches 3,000, the NYPD is discussing switching to 12-hour patrols, the source said. Typically, cops work shifts of just over 8 hours.

If the number hits 6,000, then investigators who work in the detective bureau, intelligence and counterterrorism will be assigned back to patrol, according to the source.

The NYPD is preparing cops for 12-hour shifts and making plans to place investigators back on patrol to deal with the rapidly growing number of officers who have reported out sick due to coronavirus, a source exclusively told Dailymail.com. File photo above

Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a press conference on Wednesday that he has 'mandated NYC and all local governments to have masks provided to their police departments'

Investigators are already being told to bring in uniforms and equipment in preparation for this contingency.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information for comment but did not receive a response before publication.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a press conference on Wednesday that he has 'mandated NYC and all local governments to have masks provided to their police departments.'

Cuomo confirmed the number of positive cases in New York state has reached more than 2,000, with 1,339 of the cases being in New York City.

He added: 'Every police department has been advised to expect people to get ill. You're talking about a public facing agency.'

Now, the NYPD is looking to not just maintain adequate policing, but also reduce the chances that cops will infect each other.

The NYPD's Chief of Patrol Edward Delatorre (pictured) and Deputy Commissioner for Employee Relations Robert Ganley have tested positive for coronavirus

'We have to have cops on the street,' one official explained.

'We need to maintain a sufficient number of officers and maintain patrols to prevent chaos, prevent looting and enforce all the new regulations being imposed.'

'It's also safer to have 12 hour shifts because we're splitting people up and having less overlap between shifts,' the official added.

'It's less opportunity to infect each other because we're not criss crossing as much.'

The NYPD's Chief of Patrol Edward Delatorre and Deputy Commissioner for Employee Relations Robert Ganley have tested positive for coronavirus.

An officer in Manhattan's 1st police precinct also tested positive, prompting nearly 30 officers in that station house to stay home.

'There's concern among the rank and file about getting sick, of course,' another police source noted.

'And the rank and file does not feel we're adequately prepared. The department should identify people who have been exposed so that we're all aware of the potential risk to our own health so we can take precautions.

'We don't want everybody infected.'

But Chief of Patrol Fausto Pichardo (pictured) said in an internal video message to all NYPD cops that they should 'keep working' even if they encounter someone who has coronavirus, according to the New York Post on Wednesday

But Chief of Patrol Fausto Pichardo said in an internal video message to all NYPD cops that they should 'keep working', even if they encounter someone who has coronavirus, according to the New York Post on Wednesday.

'We learn more about the COVID-19 pandemic every day, and as we do, our best practices to keep members of the service safe evolve.

'At this time, the Centers for Disease Control and New York City Department of Health, in keeping with the guidance to health care workers, are recommending that a member of the service who has close contact — and that's defined as less than six feet for more than a few minutes — to an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, well, they can keep working.'