Mayor Sacco, Board of Commissioners Commend North Bergen EMS for Heroism During COVID-19 Crisis

NORTH BERGEN, N.J. — Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, many essential workers have stepped up to save lives and protect local residents. From doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, to employees at grocery stores and other essential businesses, to police and firefighters and more, all have put themselves at risk for the good of the community. Mayor Nicholas Sacco, Public Safety Commissioner Allen Pascual and the Board of Commissioners are celebrating the contributions of all these COVID-19 heroes, with a special acknowledgement to the men and women of the North Bergen EMS who have done truly extraordinary work during this crisis.

“Since the COVID-19 crisis first emerged in Hudson County, North Bergen EMS workers have worked tirelessly to serve our community and they deserve our unending gratitude for the countless lives they have saved,” said Mayor Sacco. “We have worked hard to support their efforts by providing all of the proper protective equipment and by supporting our employees with mental health services and more, because these brave men and women deserve it.”

Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, North Bergen EMS handled approximately 600 calls for service per month. That number nearly tripled to over 1,500 calls during the month of April, a staggering figure that underscores the breadth of the crisis. Through its Purchasing Department, North Bergen secured thousands of N95 masks and other pieces of protective equipment for EMS workers in order to ensure that they would be protected from exposure to the coronavirus as much as possible. The township also acquired an industrial backpack fogger device, which is used to decontaminate ambulances multiple times per day.

“The past six weeks have been the most harrowing experience of our lives and I could not be more proud of the way our team continues to conduct itself, rising to the occasion every day to help keep North Bergen safe,” said North Bergen EMS Director Dave Prina. “I would like to thank Mayor Sacco and the township for ensuring that we always have the proper equipment, training and manpower to respond to any situation, including something as dire as the COVID-19 crisis.”

Starting in late April, North Bergen has been providing COVID-19 testing to all frontline employees, including antibody testing, in order to ensure that the virus does not spread among its workforce. Additionally, the township has made free mental health services available to EMS workers and other first responders through telehealth appointments in order to help manage elevated stress levels due to the crisis.