Santa Maria City employee tests positive for COVID-19

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- A Santa Maria employee is recuperating after testing positive for COVID-19.

An individual from the Department of Public Works in Santa Maria was tested Tuesday and the result came back positive.

The individual says that he may have been infected by a family member.

Two other city employees who were in contact with the individual were sent home to isolate out of precaution for other city workers.

One of the workers', another Public Works employee, results came back negative for COVID-19 on Thursday morning.

The other worker who works in the Parks and Recreation Department was also sent home to quarantine. Their test results are currently unknown.

The individual that tested positive was ordered to self-quarantine for 14 days per City protocols.

The City has confirmed the individual did not have any underlying health conditions.

The doctor will be contacting the proper authorities for follow-up.

The City Manager’s Office conducted a contact tracking investigation to determine if anyone else may have been exposed to the employee while he was infectious.

No additional people have been identified or recommended for self-isolation.

To minimize the risk of exposure among city employees and the public, the City says they continue to provide clear guidance to all of their employees about COVID-19, including social distancing and wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).