Tucson officials said they “are still able to meet expectations of service delivery” after 17 people tested positive for the coronavirus at the department that handles the city’s 911 emergency calls.
The city initiated mandatory, departmentwide testing starting last week at the Public Safety Communications Department that confirmed the breadth of the outbreak.
Eleven of the positive cases were asymptomatic while eight others were sent home as they awaited test results, according to a Wednesday email obtained by the Arizona Daily Star.
In the email, director Jamie O’Leary wrote that 75% of employees, which includes those who are cross-trained to function in multiple roles, remain available to both take and dispatch police, emergency management and fire calls. Six employees have already returned to work and seven more should be back by Monday.
Keep reading with a digital access subscription.
“We are currently able to meet service level expectations but are taking an anticipatory readiness posture in the event of increased absences and are taking actions as identified” in the operations plan, O’Leary said.
The city also instituted a number of precautionary measures, including undergoing a commercial deep clean of the office, putting in sneeze guards at desks and making wearing masks mandatory, officials said.
“This situation is unfortunate, and I want to assure you that the city has plans in place to ensure the safety of our community and wellbeing of employees and that those plans and protocols have been followed expeditiously,” city manager Michael Ortega wrote.
Photos for May 29: Tucson gets by during Coronavirus Pandemic
Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Updated
May 29, 2020
The iconic Casa Molina bull and matador statue both sport masks on the first full week of the loosening of COVID19 restrictions, May 23, 2020, Tucson, Ariz. The bull previously had a mask on the testicles.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Updated
May 29, 2020
Michelle Leon Cordova, right, mother, and her son Sahuarita High School senior Lino Cordova, whom is fighting cancer, wave at staff members from Diamonds Children Center, friends and the Marana Police Department during a car parade, celebrating Lino's graduation, outside of his home on May 13, 2020 in Sahuarita, Ariz. Cordova stood on the sidewalk while the team from Diamond Children Center, friends and the Marana police department gave Cordova a graduation gar parade. Cordova was given a gift basket with his favorite snacks, gift cards as well as other items he enjoys. The car parade, also, celebrated another graduating senior fighting cancer from Empire High School, Noah Nieto. Nieto, also, received a gift basket with snacks, gift cards and other items Lino enjoys.
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Updated
May 29, 2020
Michelle Leon Cordova, right, mother, brings celebration balloons to a car after staff members from Diamonds Children Center, friends and the Marana Police Department celebrate Sahuarita High School senior Lino Cordova, whom is fighting cancer, graduation with a car parade outside of his home on May 13, 2020 in Sahuarita, Ariz. Cordova stood on the sidewalk while the team from Diamond Children Center, friends and the Marana police department gave Cordova a graduation gar parade. Cordova was given a gift basket with his favorite snacks, gift cards as well as other items he enjoys. The car parade, also, celebrated another graduating senior fighting cancer from Empire High School, Noah Nieto. Nieto, also, received a gift basket with snacks, gift cards and other items Lino enjoys.
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Updated
May 29, 2020
Personnel from Tucson Medical Center line the heliport to watch A-10's from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base's 355th Wing and F-16's from the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Wing make a pass over the facility, one leg of an area wide community flyover, May 14, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Updated
May 29, 2020
Nancy Celix-Campos, right, a respitory therapist at Tucson Medical Center, watches the military flyover with her daughters, Giana, 12, and Jazmyn, 8, from Sentinel Peak on May 14, 2020. Two F-16 Fighting Falcons from Arizona Air National GuardÕs 162nd Wing and two A-10 Thunderbolt II's from the 355th Wing, assigned to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, fly over Tucson area hospitals to honor healthcare personnel and first responders as they are some of the frontline workers dealing with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) head on. "It's been an exhausting two to three months," says Campos, "it's pretty cool, I like how they're going by each hospital."
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Updated
May 29, 2020
Two F-16 Fighting Falcons from Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Wing and two A-10 Thunderbolt II's from the 355th Wing, assigned to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, fly over Northwest Medical Center north of Tucson on May 14, 2020.
Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Updated
May 29, 2020
A letter carrier portrait on the Ok Market building, located in the Armory Park neighborhood, is adorned with a face mask on May 18, 2020.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Updated
May 29, 2020
Rosemary Garcia waits for a family member outside of a store at Park Place Mall, 5870 E. Broadway Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz. on May 19, 2020. Malls reopened today under CDC guidelines and Gov. Ducey's new rules for businesses due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Park Place Mall has signs throughout the mall reminding customers to keep a six feet distance as well as hand sanitizer stations near each entrance. About half of the tables in the food court have been removed to allow for social distances as well as less than half of the stores have opened with new guidelines. Of the stores open, only 10 customers are allowed to shop in each store at a time.
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Updated
Aug 12, 2022
Pat Schlote steams clothing before it is put on the sales floor at the Golden Goose Thrift Shop in Catalina, Ariz., on May 21, 2020.
Rick Wiley / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Updated
May 29, 2020
Ada Contreras, teaching assistant, looks through containers while reorganizing toys at Herencia Guadalupana Lab School, 6740 S. in Tucson, Ariz. on May 21, 2020. As Child care centers begin to re-open when they are ready, Herencia Guadalupana Lab School is reorganizing and cleaning everything in the facility before re-opening on June 2. To allow for social distancing and decrease the amount of items children touch, Herencia Guadalupana Lab School has sheds where items will go as well as placing items in containers organized by category.
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Updated
May 29, 2020
Jen Martinez, right, softball coach, teaches Skylar Reilly about hitting during a session at Centerfield Baseball Academy, 5120 S. Julian Dr., in Tucson, Ariz. on May 21, 2020. After re-opening on Monday, Centerfield Baseball Academy has implemented new policies in response to the Coronavirus Pandemic such as wearing masks, cleaning, signage, hand sanitizer and limiting the amount of people inside the facility.
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Updated
May 29, 2020
Karl Bosma, left, and George Cantua, with facilities and maintenance, lay down stickers to mark six-foot separation distance around one of the baggage carousels, part of the efforts at Tucson International Airport to work within the restrictions of COVID19, May 22, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Updated
Jan 30, 2021
A lone passenger waits for a flight near one of the shuttered restaurants in the B Gates before Memorial Day at Tucson International Airport on May 22, 2020.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Updated
Jul 9, 2021
Drew Cooper on the stage in the St. Philip's Plaza courtyard, May 22, 2020, Tucson, Ariz., where live music is back on the schedule.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Updated
May 29, 2020
Many people visit Tumamoc Hill during the first day of Tumamoc's re-opening in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020. After being closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Tumamoc Hill re-opened with some modifications. There are hand sanitizer stations throughout the hike to the top as well as arrows, spaced 10-ft apart, lined up and down the hill. Some runners, hikers and walkers are also wearing masks during their hike. "The steps we are taking aim to provide our community with needed exercise, connection to our beautiful desert and a sense of comfort in such a trying time, while balancing the fact that gathering as a community endangers each of us and our loved ones. This is an unprecedented challenge that we are taking extremely seriously," said Benjamin T. Wilder, director of Tumamoc Hill. Visitors are also asked to limit their group to three people and to not touch the gate at the top of the hill- a tradition for some who make it to the top. "This is a time when we need to establish new traditions and adapt in a creative manner that embraces empathy, unity, care and patience," Wilder said.
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Updated
May 29, 2020
Pen Macias, artist, works on part 2 of a mural for a client on E. Broadway Rd., between S. Columbus Blvd. and S. Alvernon Way, in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020. Macias, known as The Desert Pen, has been working on her clients mural for the past three months. "It's the one thing I love, I have a passion for and the only thing I could be happy doing," said Macias. The mural represents her client, a single mother of four who works in the health care field. One half of the mural is dedicated to the connection between mothers and their children. The other half is dedicated to the connection between nurses and patients. The client wanted some positivity in the mural to show how nurses give a piece of themselves to their patients hence the puzzle pieces in the nurse and the patients, said Macias.
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Updated
May 29, 2020
Christina Cortinas, posing at her home, May 28, 2020, Tucson, Ariz., with a photo of her and her mother, Catherine Rodriguez, in San Diego, 1991. Rodriguez is currently in assisted living and fighting COVID19. Cortinas hasn't seen her mother in months, the longest such span in her life.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Updated
Aug 15, 2020
Ruben Lopez looks through handouts while attending a Eviction Resource Fair with his family outside the Pima County Justice Court.
Josh Galemore / Arizona Daily Star
Contact reporter Justin Sayers at jsayers1@tucson.com or 573-4192. Twitter: @_JustinSayers. Facebook: JustinSSayers.