Fifty firefighters in Greater Manchester are self isolating due to the coronavirus pandemic. The number has fallen from 61 before the Easter weekend and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue service are able to keep 50 engines in operation.
In a bid to get more frontline crews back to work, those in self isolation are being sent to a testing station at Manchester Airport.
The move comes after the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said two days ago that nearly 3,000 fire and rescue staff across the UK are in isolation.
It called on the government to provide coronavirus testing of firefighters so they could return to work. Matt Wrack, the Manchester-born, FBU, General Secretary, warned services would be put on a "dangerous knife edge" if staff cannot
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