Pittsburgh Officials: 10 Percent Of City Workers Under Quarantine

PITTSBURGH, PA —Approximately 10 percent of the city of Pittsburgh's 3,300-person workforce is in quarantine due to symptoms or contacts with other individuals infected by the coronavirus. City officials said Wednesday a small group of city workers has tested positive, but did not provide a specific number.

The high number of those in quarantine has prompted city to provide temporary shelter away from family members and coworkers to public safety employees exposed to serious cases of the virus.

Additionally, with the city already having experienced one major snowstorm, the city has mandated only one driver in a Department of Public works truck clearing streets. Those workers are health-screened before beginning their shifts, but if a coronavirus outbreak does impact snow removal service the city has outside contractors on standby to perform the work.

protocols are in place that require only one driver in each Department of Public Works truck, who is health-screened before starting work. Should a significant COVID-19 outbreak occur impacting snow removal service, the City has outside contractors on standby to assist.

“City workers are continuing to deliver services, safely, to residents even during this worsening pandemic," Mayor Bill Peduto said in a news release. "We will continue to review our COVID-19 response efforts as cases are expected to surge this winter."

Essential employees are required to wear masks at all times and socially distance as much as possible, and are subject to health screenings at the start of all shifts. Subject to Gov. Tom Wolf’s orders, all telework-eligible employees are working from home, and must coordinate schedules if they need to go into the office, to make sure few employees are in the office at the same time.

Each City department tracks cases, return to work dates, and designates coworkers to check in daily with those who are COVID-19 positive or quarantining. Official travel has been suspended but employees who travel for personal reasons must file reports with their supervisors when they return — they are reviewed by Emergency Medical Services and if deemed high-risk they are required to quarantine and get tested.

All City facilities are cleaned regularly, and if department officials request extra cleaning it is provided the same day.