A Carbon County employee has contracted the COVID-19 virus.

On Friday, a county employee on a requested sick day visited a medical provider and underwent a COVID-19 screening. The employee tested positive for COVID-19. Shortly thereafter, the employee notified his direct supervisor and provided a doctor’s medical diagnosis with confirmation of the COVID-19 test results, according to a release issued Sunday.

Contact tracing began immediately. Primary contact people (in direct contact with the infected employee) were notified and directed to self-quarantine. On Saturday, the county contracted a certified cleaning company and completed a disinfecting and mitigation effort using EPA-registered disinfectants in accordance with U.S. Center for Disease Control and PA DOH guidelines.

Comissioners did not say where the employee worked.

Disinfecting/mitigation areas included all actual and potential physical spaces in county buildings and vehicles where the individual may have been present. A follow-up inspection will take place today.

Commissioners said there is no lingering danger from this specific confirmed case given the employee’s rapid notification to the county, thorough contact tracing in accordance with current guidelines, and strict application of CDC’s Cleaning and Disinfection of Community Facilities Guidance.

“The board of commissioners will continue to make protecting its employees its #1 priority and reemphasizes to elected officials, county employees, and residents that Friday’s transition to Yellow Phase was not a signal to become complacent or disregard CDC and PA DOH guidelines,” the board said in the release.

The board of commissioners transmitted a CODE RED telephone alert and posted an employee and public notification on its Facebook page Carbon County Commissioners, and its website www.CarbonCounty.com.