Another worker at the Energy Department’s Hanford Site in Washington state tested posted for COVID-19 this week, bringing the total number of cases to 17 at the former plutonium production complex.
The individual works at the Waste Treatment Plant being built by Bechtel, according to the Energy Department website that provides updates on COVID-19. Access to areas of the plant where the individual works has been restricted to everyone except authorized janitorial staff, until it can be disinfected, the announcement says.
The update did not provide any other details on the case.
In accordance with guidance form the regional Benton-Franklin Health District, other people who work in this area should monitor themselves for symptoms common to the novel coronavirus 2019, including a bad cough or fever.
Hanford is one of 16 nuclear cleanup sites around the United States overseen by the DOE Office of Environmental Management (EM). Anecdotal information indicates the number of active COVID-19 cases at EM facilities is in the mid-40s.
Like most other cleanup locations, Hanford sent most of its remediation workforce home in March, with personnel either teleworking or taking paid leave. Remobilization began in late May at the Energy Department. Hanford is now in Phase 1, in which staff involved in key jobs or low-risk work start being recalled on-site. Hanford Site Manager Brian Vance typically announces late Thursday what the status will be for the coming week.
