City statement regarding positive COVID-19 test
From: David Cowan, Director of Safety & Code Enforcement
After being informed this morning of a City of Independence employee’s positive test for COVID-19, City leaders acted immediately to close City Hall to the public and communicate with fellow employees who may need to take additional precautions, including potentially self-quarantining. The County Health Department was contacted immediately and determined that any risk to the public would be considered very low.
The employee worked for a day and a half this week before becoming ill and going home. The employee sought health care and was tested yesterday for COVID-19 and did not return to work. The employee received the positive test results this morning.
The employee did have interaction with the public while at work. However, all City employees, including the person in question, have been instructed to follow the governor’s recommended guidelines for wearing masks and distancing from other individuals. The City Hall public lobby area also had been recently reconfigured to reduce physical interaction with the public and provide protective barriers between the staff and visitors.
Any community members who visited City Hall on Wednesday or Thursday this week and are concerned about possible exposure should contact the Montgomery County Health Department at (620) 331-4300.
The City is now focusing its efforts on thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the City Hall building and monitoring the other staff members who worked in proximity to the infected employee. At this time, we are considering whether to move forward with all staff testing, but have not yet made that determination.
We will provide more information on City Hall operations as it becomes available.