Merced ‘public safety employee’ tests positive for coronavirus, city manager confirms
A City of Merced public safety employee has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), according to city and county officials.
The individual is quarantined at home.
“Other employees who may have come in contact with the infected employee have been contacted and informed of what steps they need to take to protect themselves and others around them,” said Merced City Manager Steve Carrigan.
“The infected person was not a detective, and every Merced Police Officer is not getting tested, contrary to what a local attorney is reported to have said,” Carrigan said. “
Employees are being tested based on the recommendations of the Merced County Department of Public Health.
The COVID-19 positive city employee is a Merced police officer who lives in Madera County, Merced County Sheriff Vern Warnke said. Merced County reported Thursday that no positive coronavirus cases have been confirmed within the county borders.
Madera County has reported a total of three coronavirus infections.
Warnke said the employee was in contact with multiple individuals at the Merced County Courthouse. Warnke said that led to a mistrial being declared in a case.
The employee was also in contact with individuals at the Merced County District Attorney’s Office, Warnke said.
Warnke urged the public to listen to the advice of medical professionals and not panic. “Most people that get this don’t even know they had it,” he said.
Carrigan said the City of Merced is now moving from a Level Three emergency response toward Level Two, which brings in more staff. The emergency operation center is moving from Fire Station 51 to City Hall to increase room and accommodate social distancing.
City and county officials were unable to comment when the employee began to show COVID-19 symptoms, their current health status or where they were tested.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 7:01 PM.
