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An employee in Colorado’s EOC tests positive for COVID-19

One person in Colorado’s State Emergency Operations Center has tested positive for COVID-19. The information was revealed April 4 in a press release by Public Information Officer Micki Trost.Daily medical screenings as used at the Center can only detect someone who is already infected, at which point they may have been shedding the virus for days. This is probably the tip of the iceberg. Without widespread and repeated testing there may be many infected but asymptomatic individuals working in emergency services.Share with us in a comment how your workplace is attempting to prevent the spread of COVID-19.Below is the information from the Colorado State Emergency Operations Center.Unified Command Group Member Tests Positive to COVID19Centennial, Colo. – April 4, 2020 – Today a member of the Colorado Unified Command Group (UCG) working at the State Emergency Operations Center tested positive for COVID-19. The staff member went through daily medical screenings and was asymptomatic until April 4 when symptoms started. The staff member then contacted executive leadership and self-isolated pending testing arrangements. Test results are positive.The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is conducting a full epidemiological investigation to evaluate the level of exposure in the UCC. Staff members at the facility were notified tonight. All staff were asked to:1) Evaluate whether or not they worked in the same area of the facility in the last 48 hours following public health guidance for possible exposures.2) Inform supervisors if they had contact or worked near the person before transitioning to remote work following CDPHE guidelines to self-quarantine and monitor for symptoms twice daily (including measuring your temperature) for 14 days.3) If staff were not in close contact with the member they will monitor symptoms daily for the next 14 days. Asymptomatic staff will report to work as previously assigned. Symptomatic staff will stay home and inform supervisors at the UCC.For the protection of all staff members the UCC has a decontamination service clean the facility each evening. The decontamination has been in place for the last two weeks. This will continue.Monday the UCC will conduct twice daily medical screening, once in the morning and again mid-day. Daily health screenings were implemented at the beginning of March.
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Author: Bill Gabbert
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