Westmoreland County elections worker tests positive for coronavirus
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A temporary employee working this week in the Westmoreland County Elections Bureau tested positive for coronavirus.
Commissioner Doug Chew said county officials were notified Thursday night of the diagnosis and that human resources staff was expected to begin investigatory work to determine if any other elections bureau employees are required to quarantine.
“We do have knowledge of a positive test. This person was working in the elections bureau office and not in the counting room,” Chew said.
Elections bureau employees and other county staff spent the week working extended hours in the elections bureau offices as well in other courthouse locations to process and count nearly 200,000 ballots cast during the election.
County officials earlier this week ruled that elections bureau staffers are essential workers, a move that circumvents an existing policy requiring an office to shutter for 24 hours following the discovery of a staffer’s positive coronavirus test.
Chew said essential workers can individually decide to isolate or remain on the job.
The diagnosis is the second time this week that an elections bureau employee tested positive for coronavirus. County officials announced Nov. 1, just two days before the election, another office employee contracted the virus. All elections bureau staffers opted to remain on the job following last weekend’s disclosure, Chew said.