LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A second Louisville firefighter has tested positive for the coronavirus. The department said the firefighter was not showing any signs of illness when he started his shift on March 18. However, that evening, he did start having symptoms including a fever, so he went home and self quarantined.

• Louisville Firefighter Tests Positive

Two days later, he was tested. Those results have not come back yet. With recent availability and because of his profession, the firefighter was able to get tested again Friday. Those results came back positive.

During a Facebook live with Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer on Saturday, Dr. Jon Klein from UofL Health spoke on the need to protect first responders and health care professionals from the virus.

“When you get down to it, doctors, police and firemen have to get close to people, so we need to be able to test them quickly to see if they are infected. We need to be able to isolate them if they are infected, so that it doesn’t move through the fire department or through the police department,” Klein said.

The department said the two firefighters who tested positive and eight others who had contact with them are now either self isolated or self quarantined at this time. During that same Facebook live Saturday, Maj. Bobby Cooper spoke on the matter.

"We come in close contact with people in order to do our job. The best thing the pubic can do is take deliberate and responsible actions. That is critical right now," Cooper said.

The department has instituted several protocols to keep firefighters and the public safe. Now, each firefighter has their vitals checked three times during a 24-hour shift. Anyone showing symptoms is sent home to self-monitor and asked to contact their health care provider.