The first city of Hattiesburg Public Works employee tested positive for coronavirus last weekend, after having been hospitalized since March 23.
Mayor Toby Barker said each employee of that division has been notified of the positive test, and each one will be scheduled for a COVID-19 test. The city will also continue to run temperature and symptom screens for division employees at the beginning and end of each shift.
“Our personnel providing essential services – from fire and police to waste collection – are on the frontlines of the pandemic,” Barker said. “We are all adjusting and adapting as we continue delivering city services through this public health crisis.
“Since before our county’s first positive case, our administrative team has put several parameters and protocols in place to keep the health and safety of our community and our workforce a priority,” he continued. “This includes sanitization practices, PPE where necessary and temperature checks at the beginning and close of shifts. We know this is a tough time for our community, and we also know that more will get sick.”
Based on CDC guidelines and input from the Hattiesburg medical community, the city has implemented a planned workflow for any employee who is either symptomatic or had direct or indirect exposure.