Coronavirus Groton: 13 Electric Boat Workers Test Positive

GROTON, CT — Electric Boat now has 13 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus. The latest positive cases are at the Groton shipyard. Company president Kevin Graney, who also has a confirmed case of COVID-19, asked employees to "consider" wearing masks. The company has ordered thermometer strips so employees check their temperatures.

In a message posted to employees Tuesday, Graney asked employees for their help to slow the spread of the virus.

"First, consider wearing a mask," he wrote, as he explained the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendation to use cloth as a mask to cover one's mouth and nose. "Second, please monitor your own temperature."

Patch had asked last week about the company's lack of temperature-taking after Gov. Ned Lamont had said on a radio broadcast that EB and other large manufacturers were doing temperature checks of employees arriving at work. Spokesperson Liz Power said that the company would be moving to do that. Now, that appears to be the case, though Graney is also asking employees to monitor their own temperatures.

"I’d like to encourage every one of you to take your temperature every day before you leave your home to come to work," Graney wrote. "If you have a temperature above 100, stay home, call your supervisor and then call the EB Medical Hotline (860-433-3470). We have ordered and are preparing to distribute personal thermometers for our employees to use. These are simple temperature strips that you place on your forehead for 30 seconds. We expect to have these available to issue on Thursday. We will provide you information on how to receive your temperature strip in the next few days."

Graney said, "by taking these steps, you are helping to protect yourself, your coworkers, and our family members. Every step we take to control the spread of this disease is helping our community and can help bring us one step closer to getting back to a normal routine."

The latest positive cases of COVID-19 cases at Electric Boat's Groton shipyard are of a person who works in Building 7 and has not been on company property since March 10; the second individual is a Groton tradesperson who usually works in Building 260 and immediate coworkers have been contacted and cleaning efforts have been performed; and the third individual is a Groton facilities person who works in Building 1 and their coworkers have been contacted and cleaning efforts have been completed.