03/25/20 Kenai Peninsula Borough Takes Precautions Due to Possible Exposure

MEDIA RELEASE:
COVID-19 | BOROUGH EMPLOYEE - POSSIBLE EXPOSURE TO CORONAVIRUS
Click HERE for printable copy.

Date: March 25, 2020
From: Kenai Peninsula Borough
Media: Brenda Ahlberg, Information Officer, 907-231-6505

Dan Nelson, Incident Commander for the Borough’s Incident Management Team, confirmed that a borough employee may have been exposed to the coronavirus. The individual is currently in self-isolation and monitoring symptoms while awaiting test results from the local health officials. All borough employees have been directed and are required to follow precautions, ensuring that safety protocols and personal protection equipment are used as recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Wednesday afternoon (03/25/20), the borough administration sent an internal message to all employees, explaining that the employee, from the Solid Waste Department, did not have any contact with the public. The staff notified the supervisor and followed the CDC recommendations to stay home and self-isolate. Employees who worked in close proximity, have been notified as part of the initial contact investigation. “We’re supporting the employee who is in self-isolation, and I’ve instructed all breakroom and confined spaces be avoided. Everyone needs to continue to practice social distancing,” stated Mayor Charlie Pierce. The borough will keep the employee’s identity and all medical information confidential.

Approximately one-third of all borough employees are working remotely from home or coming to work in alternate shifts to minimize close contact, and workstations have been physically separated six feet apart. Additional janitorial staff and cleaning schedules have been added. Borough buildings remain closed to the public with the exception of critical services. Any employee or family members experiencing any type of cold symptoms are asked to notify their supervisor and stay home, and they should call their healthcare provider if they show any respiratory illness symptoms.

Information and the response to the COVID-19 outbreak in the Kenai Peninsula Borough will continue to be updated daily on the Kenai Peninsula Virtual Joint Information website at www.kpboem.com as well as Facebook and Twitter @KPBalerts.