Current status: Answered by Ash Denham on 21 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what data it has on the number of firefighters that have been (a) diagnosed with COVID-19 and (b) required to self-isolate.
Staffing issues, including absence management, are operational matters for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has however been providing the Scottish Government with regular updates on workforce absences throughout the pandemic, including those absent for reasons relating to COVID-19.
These updates provide a snapshot of staff absences on the day they are submitted.
At 14 August 2020, 29 (1%) wholetime firefighters, 22 (1%) RDS firefighters and 2 (1%) control room staff were absent due to COVID-19. In addition, 24 (0.7%) wholetime firefighters, 21 (0.7%) RDS firefighters and 2 (1.1%) control room staff were self-isolating.