By james art 
The number of Covid-19 cases continues to grow in Hialeah, and researchers at the University of Miami wanted to do fast testing of the city’s fire service to find out who is exposed and who is not, reports Local 10 newsS
The head of the Hyali Fire Department County David Rodriguez believes that the efforts may be the first of its kind: “We are probably one of the first in the country, maybe even the nation,” he said.
About 230 firefighters will be tested for the coronavirus. One of the goals of the tests is to find out if any of them is immunized against the new virus.
“This is an idea in the whole fire service of what we are dealing with. Some people do not feel any symptoms at all. Some people may have it, some people may not,” Rodriguez explained.
Of the approximately 80 firefighters tested so far from Wednesday, employees have said that four have tested positively for antibodies and are now in isolation while expecting the results of a tampon test to find out if they are still infected.
The tests only take seconds to administer with ordinary finger stab and the results are ready for 10 to 15 minutes.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the results of the antibody test are important for detecting infections with few or no symptoms.
“This is a quick blood sample, like a needle stick, as you would do if you were a diabetic to test your blood sugar,” says Captain Stephen Lyon, a Hyallea Fire Service officer.
“We will go and do this job, no matter what. We registered for that. But, you know, in the back of the mind of all, you are a little worried. When your change is over, you go home to your family. You don’t want to go through these things, ”Lyon said.
Testing would help to give peace to those on the front lines of the fight against Covid-19 daily.
All tests are expected to be completed today, and the department has purchased about 300 additional tests in case a re -test must be re -test.