Three City of Bloomington workers have tested positive for COVID-19 since March 25, the city announced in a Thursday press release.
These cases mark the first time in four weeks the city has reported COVID-19 cases among city employees. The county’s COVID-19 advisory level moved from blue to yellow Wednesday, due to the county’s increased positivity rate to .85% and cases per 100,000 residents.
The three city employees who tested positive work for Bloomington Transit, the Parks and Recreation Department and the Public Works Department.
According to the press release, no passengers or coworkers in Bloomington Transit were identified as close contacts. Right now, Bloomington Transit drivers are separated from passengers by a shield in an attempt to limit contact between both the driver and passengers.
The employee in the Parks and Recreation Department works at the Twin Lakes Recreation Center. Coworkers defined as close contacts have been notified, according to the release.
Including the three new cases, there have now been 75 total cases among city employees since the beginning of the pandemic.
Three cases, all of which were from March, mark a decrease from previous months. Four employees tested positive in February and 13 employees tested positive in January.
Mayor John Hamilton announced weeks ago in a press conference the city would provide a $100 wellness benefit to city employees who received the COVID-19 vaccine. He said he hoped it would encourage more city employees to get the vaccine so the city can return to more normal operations. Hamilton said on March 26 in a press conference almost 100 employees had applied for that benefit.
