Plant Vogtle officials say 64 employees tested positive for coronavirus
Officials at Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle have confirmed that 64 of their employees have tested positive for the coronavirus.
"We took immediate action to identify and notify workers who were located in close proximity to these individuals when we first learned there were pending tests and sent those team members home to await test results. These team members will remain home in self-isolation and monitor their health for symptoms," plant officials said in a statement, according to WRDW.
»COMPLETE COVERAGE: CORONAVIRUS
Located in Waynesboro, WABE reported Plant Vogtle is the only nuclear power plant under construction in the country. The latest news comes as officials at Georgia Power's parent company, Southern Company announced there would be a 20 percent reduction in workforce in response to COVID-19.
"It is expected to provide operational efficiencies by increasing productivity of the remaining workforce and reducing workforce fatigue and absenteeism," the company said Thursday. "It is also expected to allow for increased social distancing by the workforce and facilitate compliance with the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."
Georgia Power officials say 38 workers are still awaiting results and 189 workers have tested negative.
About the Author
Kelcie Willis is a writer and online content producer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Sociology from the University of Georgia. At the AJC, she covers state, regional and national news with the Content Curation Desk.
