DMV Fresno office worker has coronavirus. Some employees told to stay home
An employee at the Fresno DMV office on Olive Avenue tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a memo sent to office workers.
In the email message to its Fresno DMV employees, the California Department of Motor Vehicles stated that the infected employee received results on Sunday that confirmed he/she had COVID-19, the coronavirus.
DMV offices have been closed to the public since March 27 but employees returned beginning April 2 for limited duties.
An employee at the Olive Avenue office who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the infected worker was at work as recently as Friday.
It is unclear when the infected employee underwent testing for the coronavirus.
Messages left with the DMV headquarters in Sacramento were not immediately returned.
The employee who spoke added that not all workers have been wearing masks and gloves or doing a good job of practicing social distancing in the office.
It is unclear how many employees possibly came into contact with the infected worker. At least some of the workers at the Olive Avenue location were informed by management not to report to work on Monday.
“Because you have been potentially exposed to COVID-19, you should contact your local public health department for guidance and any possible actions to take based on individual circumstances,” the DMV email to employees reads.
The DMV was working with the Fresno County Health Department to take appropriate steps, including possibly reaching out to any Olive Avenue office workers who may have been in close contact with the infected employee.
In addition, the Fresno office was closed and professionally sanitized, the DMV said in its email to employees.
DMV offices across California have been closed to the public since March 27 to address employee health and safety concerns, including the public contact and increasing social distancing between individuals.
But the offices have been opened to employees since April 2 in a limited capacity to serve as a new online “Virtual Field Office.”
It’s at least the second instance of a Fresno-area DMV worker tested positive for the coronavirus. A worker at the Reedley DMV office tested positive Thursday.
This story was originally published April 14, 2020 at 5:48 PM.
