An employee tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID 19) at NASA Langley Research Center.
Joe Atkinson, spokesman for NASA Langley, wrote in an email Monday they were notified the individual had tested positive over the weekend.
“It is our first confirmed positive case at NASA Langley,” he wrote. “Because we were made aware of this so quickly by the employee’s emergency contact, we were able to take steps to mitigate potential impacts on the health and safety of the Langley team.”
Atkinson said the individual is being treated for the coronavirus and most of NASA Langley’s employees have been teleworking since March 17 except for essential personnel, Stage 3 of the agency’s response to COVID-19.
“We immediately notified any employees who may have come in contact with the individual, and the individual’s work areas have been professionally cleaned and sanitized,” he added.
Atkinson did not release the employee’s job title, age or gender.
As of Monday, James City County has 118 positive cases of the coronavirus , Newport News has 54, Hampton has 41, York County has 21, Williamsburg has 13 and Poquoson has 3, according to the Virginia Department of Health’s website.
There are 2,878 positive cases and 54 deaths statewide. At least eight people from the Peninsula Health District and one person from the Hampton Heath District have died from the coronavirus.
The Peninsula Health District covers Newport News, Poquoson, Williamsburg, James City County and York County. The Hampton Health District covers Hampton.
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