5 Concord Employees Contract Coronavirus

CONCORD, NH — Five Concord employees have contracted the coronavirus during the past two weeks, according to city officials.

Four of the employees work in the Concord Police Department while one works at city hall. The cases were reported as the state of New Hampshire sees an increase in positive test results after tripling its testing capacity during the summer and many months after city councilors approved a face covering ordinance — which was supposed to limit the spread of the virus. Since that time, the state has initiated its own mask mandate.

Concord Police Chief Bradley Osgood was informed Monday that four of the city's police department employees had tested positive. According to Stefanie Breton, a public information office for the city, the employees sought testing after becoming symptomatic during the week of Nov. 22.

One employee, a patrol officer, called into a shift after having some days off and tested positive, she said. Another contracted the virus while on vacation. A third police employee became symptomatic after working on Nov. 23. That employee tested positive on Nov. 29. They have not been working for eight days, Breton said. A fourth employee worked on Nov. 16 and began remote work the next day. After returning to the department for three days, the employee began experiencing symptoms on Nov. 20, was tested two days later, and was informed of the positive diagnosis on Monday.

A fifth employee, who works in city hall, has also tested positive. That employee has not been to work since Nov. 20 and had no contact with the public.

"These instances appear to be isolated and the individuals had no contact with the public," Breton said. "The employees are currently isolating at home and recovering."

Breton said the city was committed to "ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens and employees, and will continue following the guidelines set forth by the state of New Hampshire and the CDC."

The cases are the first cluster of coronavirus outbreaks connected to city employees or facilities since late September and mid-October.

Concerned residents should contact the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services at 603-271-4496 for more information about contact tracing or COVID-19.

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