TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The portion Tallahassee's R.A. Gray state office building that houses the Florida Division of Elections suite has been closed after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
Mark R. Ard, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of State, confirmed that an employee in the R. A. Gray Building, Division of Elections in Tallahassee has tested positive for COVID-19.
He says the employee was last in the office on April 17.
"Consistent with CDC guidelines, we will be deep cleaning and disinfecting the affected areas and nearby common areas. While these areas are being cleaned and disinfected, they will be closed and employees working in those areas will be on leave until the Division of Elections suite is reopened," Ard wrote in the statement.
They anticipate that the area will be reopened on Monday.
To try to avoid any spread amongst other employees, Ard said that officials will stagger the hours of employees who cannot perform work remotely or ensure they can maintain "safe distances" from each other.
"We have encouraged those employees who are working in the buildings to adhere to social distancing standards and practices and have provided additional sanitization stations throughout the building near highly trafficked areas for employees’ convenience," Ard wrote in a statement.
The department currently has 200 employees on telework status.
