EVERETT — It’s likely that the Snohomish Health District is experiencing a small outbreak of the coronavirus.
A worker in the health district’s Everett office developed mild symptoms Sunday and has remained at home since, with test results pending, the district said in a Wednesday news release. Another staff member, who was in close contact with the symptomatic employee, tested positive for the virus on Wednesday. Both will remain isolated at home for at least 10 days.
Per state guidelines, two or more cases in a workplace is considered an outbreak.
“The Health District has been preparing for the possibility that employees might test positive for COVID-19 or need to self-quarantine since the beginning of the response,” the news release said. “The Health District will continue to follow its own guidance for employers and take every precaution to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
From those two cases, the health district has contacted and tested 15 other employees who were in close contact with the workers. They are in quarantine, awaiting test results.
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All other staff in the district’s Rucker Avenue office Wednesday were tested and sent home for the rest of the week. Employees who had been in the office since June 1, but were not present Wednesday, were told to get tested at one of the health district’s sites or by their health care provider.
The Rucker Avenue office is closed until June 15 for cleaning. Online services are available at www.snohd.org.
“This is being managed aggressively out of an abundance of caution, following prevailing standards, and in consultation with the Washington State Department of Health,” the news release said.
Joey Thompson: 425-339-3449; jthompson@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @byjoeythompson.
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