TAYLOR COUNTY, Texas —
After 14 City of Abilene employees tested positive for COVID-19, nine from MERCY Health Care Center and the Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District, both facilities are closed to the public.
The positive cases were reported by the City of Abilene in a press release Wednesday.
Residents are still able to access resources and COVID-19 testing provided by MERCY and the health district by first calling either facility and receiving further instruction.
Residents can contact MERCY at 325-676-6634; or the Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District at 325-692-5600.
The closure of MERCY and the health district to the public comes after nine staff members tested positive for COVID-19, the release stated.
In addition to this, two emergency management employees; and three Abilene Fire Department members have tested positive, for a total of 14 employees testing positive for COVID-19 in the last 48 hours. These staff members are self-isolating at home where they continue to work remotely as symptoms are mild at this time.
Abilene City Manager Robert Hanna has also self-isolated due to exposure to a COVID-19 positive staff member, and is working from home. He remains symptom free at this time.
It is believed the initial COVID-19 exposure occurred through community spread, and the City is taking all necessary precautions to limit further exposure among its workforce, the release stated.
This spread of COVID-19 is evidence that despite best practices, all businesses will eventually deal with COVID-19 infections in their workforce, and should follow recommended practices to minimize its spread.
