St. Pete Police Communications Employee Positive For Coronavirus

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — An Emergency Communications Center employee at the St. Petersburg Police Department has tested positive for coronavirus.

The worker returned to work from an out-of-town trip on March 16, stayed home sick on March 18 with symptoms of the virus and has not been back to work since.

On Wednesday, his test came back positive for coronavirus. He is currently being treated.

When the employee called in sick, maintenance crews began sanitizing the Emergency Communications Center several times daily. This daily sanitizing is continuing.

After receiving the positive test results, the police department has been working with the Florida Health Department to ensure the safety of the other employees.

Currently, four other employees who may have come in contact with the sick worker have self-quarantined at home.

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Police Chief Anthony Holloway sent out a memo to all police employees notifying them that an employee has tested positive. A volunteer from St. Anthony's Hospital-BayCare will be onsite twice daily Monday through Friday to check employees' temperatures.

Hand-sanitizing stations have been placed on each floor.

The ECC has 77 employees who work as call-takers and dispatchers for 911 and non-emergency calls. The center in the new police department headquarters and is large enough for employees to spread out and maintain the required social distance from one another.

See related story: Tampa Police Officer Positive For Coronavirus; 15 In Isolation