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Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley declared a state of emergency Wednesday to address operational concerns in the fire department as the coronavirus impacts staffing levels.
At the request of Fire Chief Michael Washington, Mayor Cranley implemented a 60-day declaration to “ensure full quality fire service in the coming weeks.”
The declaration allows city officials to temporarily suspend city rules and policies to address the staffing crisis, according to a report by WLWT.
City officials could impose mandatory overtime and cancel vacations to meet staffing requirements.