The number of coronavirus-infected NYPD members surged to more than 200 — with nearly three thousand more cops out sick, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said Tuesday.
According to the commissioner, 177 uniformed members of the NYPD have been confirmed to have the pandemic COVID-19 along with 34 civilians employees.
“What we’re seeing internally as an agency on the frontline is that we are still on an upward climb,” Shea said.
At the same time, the NYPD is seeing nearly triple the normal number of officers calling out sick as the viral outbreak continues to affect department staffing levels.
Between 2,700 and 2,800 officers — nearly 8 percent of uniformed officers — were out sick Tuesday. The number of sick cops typically hovers around 1,000 — or 3 percent of the police force.
The commissioner has not said what number of sick cops would force the department to call in reserves — similar to the response in the days after 9/11 — or what plan was in place.
Shea has said he doesn’t believe the NYPD has any “breaking point” when it comes to staffing levels.
Police sources, meanwhile, said NYPD detectives assigned from various district attorneys’ offices had been tapped Tuesday to fill the shoes of sick cops on patrol.
On Monday, detectives were told to prepare to be assigned to patrol as the department waits to see if the National Guard will be called in.
Asked if there were plans to send in the National Guard to help, Gov. Andrew Cuomo demurred Tuesday as he said he’s been in contact with the mayor.
“Whatever needs he has, we’ll figure out how to address,” Cuomo said. “These are uncharted waters for all of us. But we’re resourceful, smart, quick on our feet, what’s the problem? We’ll figure out how to solve it.”
Additional reporting by Jacob Henry and Larry Celona
