TwoWatervliet Arsenal employees test positive
WATERVLIET, N.Y. » Two Department of Defense employees at Watervliet Arsenal have tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently undergoing evaluation and treatment, according to Watervliet Arsenal spokesman Matthew Day.
The Watervliet Arsenal has notified public health authorities of the positive test and has taken prudent precautions to ensure the employee is receiving the appropriate care, according to a news release sent Thursday morning.
Watervliet Arsenal officials noted that contact tracing performed by public health officials is also underway.
“The health and safety of our workforce and their families is critical for Department of Defense mission success,” Day said in the release.
Arsenal officials said they are working closely with interagency partners to ensure the arsenal continues to do everything it can to mitigate the effects of
COVID-19 on the workforce and their families.
Watervliet Mayor Charles Patricelli said he was on a citywide conference call with various officials on Wednesday, including officials from the Arsenal, however, Patricelli said the two positive cases at the Arsenal was not available then.
Patricelli said he is not aware if the two employees reside within the city, however, he said the city has protocols in place since he expects residents from the city will eventually test pos
itive for COVID-19.
“It’s certainly concerning, but we anticipate that it’s going to hit us sooner or later,” Patricelli said on Thursday morning. “[Albany County’s] numbers are growing.”
Patricelli has not declared a State of Emergency as of Thursday morning, however, he did close City Hall to the public. The mayor noted that the city is following the guidance of the County and State Health Departments.
“We’re not immune to it just because we’re a city [that doesn’t have it yet],” Patricelli added. “The borders don’t stop here. So we’re just taking our normal precautions.”
The city administration will continue to work through the complexities of maintaining business continuity and as this situation develops, notifications will continue to be delivered to the general public.
“We are keenly focused on our preparedness efforts in order to maintain a safe work environment for everyone and to sustain our operations. We are part of a dedicated team who are committed to keeping our operations running smoothly so that we can provide the best possible service to everyone,” Patricelli said in a statement earlier this week.
“We’ll do whatever we can to help mitigate and keep the safety of residents at bay,” the mayor said on Thursday.
Patricelli noted how he set up a conference call with over 100 people from throughout the city on Thursday morning to discuss this topic.
The mayor also said the City Council will have a meeting on Friday to see how to proceed with handling City Council meetings. He said video conference could end up being an option.
If city residents have questions or need information, you may email jlacivita@ watervliet. com or call (518) 270-3800 which will direct you to a specific department.