COVID-19 Employee Updates
INFORMATION & RESOURCES
MEDIA INQUIRIES
For all media inquiries, please contact 601-447-5950 (text for best response) or email smccain@hattiesburgms.com.
LINKS FOR REFERENCE
NEED HELP OR INFO?
If you have questions or need additional information about coronavirus and Mississippi, the information below will provide you with a hotline dedicated to COVID-19.
COVID-19 Hotline: 877-978-6453
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
COVID-19 EMPLOYEE PROTOCOLS
The following documents are used for direct/indirect exposures within the City of Hattiesburg’s workforce. They were developed following CDC guidelines and protocols along with help from the Hattiesburg medical community. Click each to view.
[Exposure & Symtpoms Protocol] [Employee Action Protocol] [Employee Resources List]
COVID-19 EMPLOYEE UPDATES
July 15, 2020
This morning, the City’s administrative team learned that two additional employees have tested positive for COVID-19. One in Urban Development and one at Hattiesburg Police Department. This is the 15th and 16th employee to test positive for our workforce since March.
- Employee #1 has not been at work since Thursday, July 9. Through tracing, there have been 6 direct exposures and 8 indirect exposures linked to this employee.
- Employee #2 was last at work this morning. Through tracing, there have been 23 direct exposures and 0 indirect exposures linked to this employee.
Neither of these cases are linked to the cases previously shared about this week.
All employees that are direct and indirect exposures for these cases have been notified of the presumptive positive test and tests have been scheduled for both direct and indirect exposures. Tests will also be scheduled for any employee who was not directly/indirectly exposed, but who wants to be tested out of caution.
These action steps are per the Exposure & Symptoms Protocol for COVID-19. This protocol was developed based on CDC guidelines and input from the Hattiesburg medical community. It relates to any employee who is either symptomatic or had direct or indirect exposure. It relates to any employee who is either symptomatic or had direct or indirect exposure, and it can be accessed by visiting: https://www.hattiesburgms.com/wp-content/uploads/employee-exposure-protocol.pdf.
July 14, 2020
Yesterday, the city’s administrative team learned that one employee within Administration* tested positive for COVID-19. This employee has not been at work since Friday, July 10.
Through tracing, the city’s team has identified direct exposure to 7 employees and indirect exposure to approximately 20 employees. Direct exposure employees were scheduled for testing.
Of the 7 direct exposure employees tested, only one employee has tested positive. This employee has not been at work since Monday, July 13. Tracing contact for this employee includes only 1 additional employee as a direct exposure and 5 employees as indirect exposures.
All employees that are direct and indirect exposures for these cases have been notified of the presumptive positive test, and tests will be scheduled for any employee who was not directly exposed but who wants to be tested out of caution. Because of the nature of these employees’ work at City Hall and out of an abundance of caution, a COVID-19 test is being offered to all employees in City Hall who choose to be tested.
This brings the total number of employees testing positive for COVID-19 since March to 14.
*Administration for the City of Hattiesburg includes the Mayor’s Office, Human Resources and the City Cerk/Tax Divisions.
July 7, 2020
Over the holiday weekend, the City’s administrative team learned that two employees with the Hattiesburg Fire Department tested positive for COVID-19 from two separate exposures – not related to prior cases within the department. Employee one has not been at work since June 29 and employee 2 has not been at work since July 2.
Administration with the fire department has traced exposure (both indirect and direct) to 20 additional employees. All will be tested and those who are indirect exposures will continue to wear PPE at all times while at work. All employees who work with these employees have been notified of the presumptive positive test, and tests will be scheduled for any employee who was not directly exposed but who wants to be tested out of caution.
June 19, 2020
This afternoon, the City’s administrative team learned that an additional employee in the Hattiesburg Fire Department tested positive for COVID-19. This employee has not been at work since this morning.
This employee was related to the case from Wednesday, June 17’s notice. This employee and the five that work directly with this employee were tested as indirect exposures to the June 17 case. Two of those tests have come back negative. The final three are at home in self-isolation until their tests results are complete.
In addition to direct exposures to this employee, nine employees have been traced as indirect exposure cases. These nine employees will be tested and continue to wear PPE at all times while at work.
These action steps are per the Exposure & Symptoms Protocol for COVID-19. This protocol was developed based on CDC guidelines and input from the Hattiesburg medical community. It relates to any employee who is either symptomatic or had direct or indirect exposure.
This brings the total confirmed number of positive cases for the City of Hattiesburg’s workforce to 10 since March 11.
June 17, 2020
Today, the city’s administrative team learned that an employee within the Hattiesburg Fire Department tested positive for COVID-19. This employee has not been at work since Saturday, June 13.
This employee also served as a volunteer during mask distribution this past Saturday at Fire Station #8, located at 104 Lamar Boulevard. The City’s health care partners have advised that due to the limited interaction between volunteers and the public, as well as the level of PPE worn during this event, that virus transfer probability is limited. However, the City is asking any resident who picked up a mask on Saturday at Fire Station #8, located at 104 Lamar Boulevard, to self-monitor for symptoms and to test if needed. Below is a list of testing availabilities in Hattiesburg:
CE Roy COVID-19 Testing Site – FREE
300 East 5th Street, Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Hours: Monday/Wednesday/Friday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Cough + Fever Clinic / Curbside COVID Testing
5905 US Hwy 49, Hattiesburg, MS 39402
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Merit Health Wesley – Resident Clinic
103 Asbury Circle, Hattiesburg, MS 39402
Phone Number: 601-268-5200
Trust Care
6176 US Highway 98, Hattiesburg, MS 39402
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone Number: 601-475-0444
SeMRHI – Minor Care Clinic
123 South 27th Avenue Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Hours: Mon. – Sun. 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Phone Number: 601-450-3030
Administration within the Fire Department has traced direct exposure of this employee to two additional employees – who are now at home in self-isolation until they receive testing results. Indirect exposure includes about 14 employees. Out of an abundance of caution, those employees will be tested and continue to wear PPE at all times while at work.
All employees with direct and indirect exposure at Hattiesburg Fire Department have been notified of the presumptive positive test. Tests will also be scheduled for any employee who was not directly exposed but who wants to be tested out of caution.
These action steps are per the Exposure & Symptoms Protocol for COVID-19. This protocol was developed based on CDC guidelines and input from the Hattiesburg medical community. It relates to any employee who is either symptomatic or had direct or indirect exposure.
This brings the total confirmed number of positive cases for the City of Hattiesburg’s workforce to nine since March 11.
May 6, 2020
Yesterday, the city’s administrative team learned that an additional employee in the Grounds and Maintenance Division of Parks and Recreation tested positive for COVID-19. This employee was a direct exposure from the case that notice was released about on Monday, May 4. This employee has not been at work since Friday, May 1.
The division supervisors have traced the direct exposure of this employee to four additional employees in the Department of Parks and Recreation – who are now at home in self-isolation and are scheduled for a COVID-19 test. Direct and indirect exposures for this department in relation to this case continues to be traced. Should employees want a test, he or she can speak directly with immediate supervisors to have it scheduled.
May 4, 2020
This weekend, our administrative team learned that an employee within the Grounds and Maintenance Division of Parks and Recreation tested positive for COVID-19. This employee has not been at work since Tuesday, April 28.
The division supervisors have traced the direct exposure of the employee to two additional employees. These employees have been tested and are at home in self-isolation awaiting test results. All in the employee’s division have been notified of the presumptive positive test. And in an abundance of caution, COVID-19 tests for each employee in that division are being scheduled.
April 30, 2020
Late yesterday evening and this morning, the city’s administrative team learned that an employee with the Hattiesburg Fire Department and an employee with the Hattiesburg Police Department tested positive for COVID-19. Below are details about each.
Hattiesburg Fire Department
On April 16, three employees came into contact with a COVID-positive individual. All were sent home directly after contact to await a timeline for tests and results. All three were tested. Two tests came back negative and one came back inconclusive. This employee was tested two more times (April 24 and April 27). The April 24 test came back inconclusive and the April 27 test came back positive. This employee will remain in quarantine for another 14 days – which will end May 11. This employee has shown no signs of symptoms since April 16.
Hattiesburg Police Department
On April 28, this employee tested positive for COVID-19 and is now on leave. Administrators for the police department have traced this employee’s contact to only two additional employees. They are being tested and are at home waiting results. All in the employee’s division have been notified of the presumptive positive test. And in an abundance of caution, the city is scheduling a COVID-19 test for each employee in that division.
April 27, 2020 – Hattiesburg Begins Reduction in Force in Response to COVID-19
Due to projected shortfalls in sales tax revenues from COVID-19’s effect on the Hattiesburg economy, the City of Hattiesburg will experience a reduction in force beginning this week.
The city’s general fund is heavily dependent on the tax dollars generated from retail sales, and March numbers indicate a downturn (approximately 15%) for when the parts of the economy were shut down for less than half the month. That shortfall is anticipated to double for April.
“We have endeavored to be very transparent throughout the city’s response to COVID-19. We believe our employees and our citizens deserve to know the good, the bad and the difficult decisions we are making as a city throughout this public health crisis,” said Mayor Toby Barker. “This crisis has challenged us all, and this decision, while painful, is necessary.”
– CLICK TO READ THE FULL RELEASE –
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
April 9, 2020
This morning, the City’s administrative team learned that an employee in Urban Development and an employee with the Hattiesburg Police Department were both positive for COVID-19. The employee from Urban Development has not been at work since April 2 and the employee in HPD has not been at work since April 1.
All in these employees’ divisions have been notified of the presumptive positive test and will be tested for COVID-19. Should additional employees need/want a test, it can be scheduled with a supervisor.
April 7, 2020
On the evening of Tuesday, April 7, Mayor Toby Barker and his administrative team learned that Kévin Jordan, the city’s housing coordinator in Urban Development, passed away due to COVID-19.April 3, 2020
Early yesterday evening, the City’s administrative team learned that an employee in Urban Development tested positive for COVID-19. The individual is currently hospitalized and has not been at work since Tuesday, March 31.
All in the employee’s division have been notified of the presumptive positive test and will be tested for COVID-19. Because of the nature of the employee’s work at City Hall and out of an abundance of caution, a COVID-19 test is being offered to all employees in City Hall who choose to be tested. If this applies to you, please speak to your supervisor about coordination/scheduling.
As an update to Monday’s news of our employee in Public Works who tested positive for COVID-19 – we want to share that the first round of tests for employees in that division have tentatively come back negative. We are awaiting results from a second batch of tests and a final report.
March 30, 2020
Over the weekend, the City of Hattiesburg’s administrative team learned that an employee in Public Works tested positive for COVID-19. The individual is currently hospitalized and has not been at work since Monday, March 23.
All in the employee’s division have been notified of the presumptive positive test. In an abundance of caution, the city will schedule a COVID-19 test for each employee in that division. The city will also continue to run daily screens for temperatures and symptoms of division employees at the beginning and end of each shift.
“Our personnel providing essential services – from fire and police to waste collection – are on the frontlines of this pandemic, and we are all adjusting and adapting as we continue delivering city services through this public health crisis,” said Mayor Toby Barker. “Since before our county’s first positive case, our administrative team has put several parameters and protocols in place to keep the health and safety of our community and our workforce a priority. This includes sanitization practices, PPE where necessary and temperature checks at the beginning and close of shifts. We know this is a tough time for our community, and we also know that more will get sick.”
Based on CDC guidelines and input from the Hattiesburg medical community, the city has implemented a planned workflow for any employee who is either symptomatic or had direct or indirect exposure. It can be accessed by clicking here.
