The State of Florida is getting $10 billion from the federal government in COVID relief funding and Governor Ron DeSantis wants to use some of that money to give first responders $1,000 dollar bonuses as a “thank you” for their service during the pandemic.

“I deal with a lot of COVID stuff up front on a daily basis still,” JFRD firefighter paramedic Jamie Johnson said.

He works in the city’s Northside. Though he hasn’t caught the virus, he’s been exposed several times.

“It’s a very real thing to deal with on every shift, every day,” he added.

Johnson says even just being recognized lets him know he’s making a difference.

“The recognition more than anything, the money is great,” he said.

Last week, Governor Ron DeSantis pitched plans to give part of the state’s COVID relief funds to first responders.

“I think it would be fantastic. I would appreciate the governor recognizing the jobs that the men and women across the whole state of Florida have been doing responding to COVID,” Jacksonville Association of Firefighters president Randy Wyse said.

Wyse knows firsthand what his fellow men and women go through.

“Here locally, our men and women have been doing unbelievable things trying to take care of the public,” Wyse said.

Though things are looking up with vaccines, Wyse says those on the front lines are still living the dangers of COVID every day. Since the start of the pandemic, 388 JFRD employees have tested positive.

“We’re still responding to these calls, even today. When we’re alerted, there’s a possibility it could be a COVID-related call,” Wyse added.

To Johnson and Wyse, getting that “thank you” is invaluable.

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