NC officer tests positive for coronavirus, Greensboro police say

A Greensboro police officer has tested positive for COVID-19, the department announced Wednesday night.

No name was released, but the department said the officer is currently under quarantine and “doing well.”

The statement added that the department is taking steps to ensure the infection doesn’t get passed along to others in the department, including disinfecting spaces and objects the officer may have come into contact with.

“During this pandemic, the Greensboro Police Department has taken critical steps to protect our employees and the community,” the statement said. “The commitment of the Greensboro Police Department is to continue to provide public safety to our community and maintain the health and safety of our employees and residents.”

An officer with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office recently died due to the coronavirus, according to The News & Observer.

Officer “Bud,” full name Sypraseuth Phouangphrachanh, was the first in Montgomery County to die as a result of COVID-19, and many in the community he served turned out to mourn the loss, the outlet reported.

Due to the nature of their jobs, police and first responders face a higher risk of catching coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.