Worker's potential coronavirus exposure temporarily closed Latrobe municipal building

Latrobe’s municipal building was closed to the public for part of the day on Thursday following a worker’s possible exposure to the coronavirus.

City Manager Michael Gray said a company arrived Thursday evening to disinfect the building, which reopened for normal business on Friday.

Latrobe-GLSD Parks and Recreation Commission, which has its office in the building, normally would have conducted a board meeting there on Thursday. According to the organization’s Facebook page, that meeting now is set for 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 in the building’s council chambers.

Gray said city staff remained at work in the building after the potential exposure was reported mid-morning on Thursday and were available to conduct business by phone.

The disinfecting procedure was a precautionary measure, Gray said.

“We don’t want to put anyone at risk,” he said.

He said the potentially exposed person, who works at the building but is not a city employee, did not come into close contact — within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes — with any other staff members.

The affected worker, who was sent home, will be tested for the coronavirus and will be asked to quarantine for at least 14 days, Gray said. If the result is positive, he said, contact tracing will occur.

Gray recommended that the person remain in quarantine until a household member who has tested positive clears the virus.

He said federal health privacy regulations prevent him from discussing any further details about the affected worker.