Two Coronavirus Cases At APG Confirmed

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD — Two civilian workers at Aberdeen Proving Ground have tested positive for the new coronavirus, according to authorities at the military base. Officials said one displayed symptoms while the other was not symptomatic but was tested due to age, travel and health.

The employee who had symptoms of the virus was tested March 18, officials reported, confirming the results were positive Tuesday. That individual worked in Building 6010 and was last in the office Friday, March 13, according to officials at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), who said most parts of the building have since been cleaned.

Everyone who has been in contact with the person has been in self-quarantine since March 18, and none has shown any symptoms, APG officials said.

Symptoms of the coronavirus can include fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The other worker who tested positive was last in the office Monday, March 16, and had traveled to New York the weekend before, officials said.

"The person did not display any symptoms, but was tested due to age, health and travel and has been put under isolation," according to APG officials.

New York City alone has seen more than 13,100 confirmed cases of the virus and had 125 deaths from the illness, according to Johns Hopkins data as of Tuesday morning.

Because of the prevalence of the virus in New York, Florida's governor on Monday ordered all incoming air passengers from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Maryland has not seen as many cases of the virus, but officials say there has not been widespread testing available to gauge how many people have COVID-19 in the state.

There are 349 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Maryland, including five in Harford County, state health officials reported Tuesday morning.

The employee at APG who had traveled to New York and tested positive works in Building 394, which is a secure facility on APG North, according to authorities, who confirmed March 20 this was the first positive test on the military base.

Building 394 was "mostly empty" due to the majority of employees teleworking, officials said. Since March 20, the building has been vacant, and APG personnel reported Tuesday that cleaning and trace procedures are expected to begin in the next day or two.

"These are the first two confirmed cases of COVID-19 on APG," APG Senior Commander Maj. Gen. Mitchell Kilgo said in a statement Tuesday. "We are taking every precaution, as directed by the CDC and U.S. Army, to keep our soldiers, families and civilians safe and healthy. Force health protection is our top priority."

APG has been shutting down other buildings on the installation, including child youth services facilities and fitness centers, and will continue tracing the contacts of people who tested positive and following other protocols "to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on the APG workforce and their families," Kilgo said.

In response to the coronavirus, APG has also limited travel and in-person meetings, reduced on-post services and maximized telework.

At least one other employee at the base was tested over the past week, according to APG Garrison Commander Col. Tim Druell. That person worked in Building 6010, also on APG North, and was tested "in an abundance of caution," APG reported March 19. Afterward, the facility became limited to key personnel, and other workers were transferred to other buildings.

Druell offered these suggestions for employees at APG:

• Telework if possible.
• Practice good hygiene.
• Inform supervisors of potential contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Call APG EOC at 410-278-9365 or 410-306-3006 for further guidance.
• Clean computers, monitors and anything else in work space twice a day.

See Also: Florida Orders NY, NJ, CT Travelers To Self-Quarantine For Coronavirus