Boeing Employee Tests Positive for Coronavirus at SC Facility, Company Says
An employee at Boeing South Carolina has tested positive for COVID-19, the company said Monday.
This is the first confirmed case of anyone with the coronavirus at the airplane plant in North Charleston, Boeing told The State.
The employee is in quarantine, according to Boeing spokeswoman Libba Holland.
“Boeing is providing its full support to a Boeing South Carolina teammate based at our Airport Campus who has tested positive for COVID-19,” Holland said in a news release. “The teammate is now in quarantine receiving the care and treatment necessary for their recovery.”
Other employees at Boeing have been notified about the positive COVID-19 test, and the airline company is “conducting thorough cleaning of the work areas and common spaces, and are following the advice of public health officials.”
Holland said Boeing has enhanced its cleaning procedures in “work spaces, common areas and on high-touch surfaces,” while re-assessing the safety of all of the company’s sites.
Boeing said it asked all of the coworkers who were in close contact with the employee to stay home to self-isolate while monitoring their health.
“We continue to communicate openly and frequently with our teammates and encourage everyone to exercise caution and take all appropriate health and safety measures, in coordination with their managers,” Holland said.
Production at the facility is ongoing, according to Holland.
“Leadership at each of our sites is working closely with their teammates to implement the guidance, and will make all decisions necessary to follow evolving government direction and to ensure the health and well being of their teams and communities,” Holland said.
Final assembly on Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner is done at the North Charleston plant.
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What you should know about the coronavirus
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. The CDC believes the virus is now spreading through communities in some affected geographic areas. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
After 22 new positive tests for the coronavirus were confirmed Sunday, South Carolina now has a total of 195 COVID-19 patients, according to the DHEC. Thirty-two of South Carolina’s 46 counties have reported a case.
DHEC is encouraging people to practice “social distancing” to help stop the spread of the virus. Social distancing is staying away from unnecessary interactions with sick people and from large groups of people; it also calls for remaining at home unless it is absolutely necessary to go out.
To reduce the spread of coronavirus, events of more than 50 people in a state, county, city, or other publicly-owned facility are prohibited, except for essential government functions, according to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.
Symptoms of coronavirus can include a fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing, according to the CDC. Among the emergency warning signs of COVID-19 is trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, and blueish lips or face, the CDC said.
The best way to prevent infection is to frequently wash hands for 20 seconds; avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth; avoid contact with sick people and clean frequently touched objects with a cleaning spray or wipe, according to the CDC. DHEC also recommends covering your cough, staying home when sick, and disposing tissues and other items that you’ve sneezed or coughed into.
Free online screenings also can be accessed by all South Carolina residents, by going to scdhec.gov/COVID19.
Prisma Health is also offering free access to medical professionals for those who think they may have coronavirus, The State reported. People experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can go to https://www.prismahealth.org/virtual-visit/ and schedule a free online visit, Prisma officials said.
As of Monday morning, 343,421 people worldwide have been diagnosed with coronavirus and 14,790 people have died, while 98,896 recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. In the United States, 35,224 people have been diagnosed with the novel virus. In the U.S. 471 deaths have been reported, including 99 in New York City, according to Johns Hopkins.
Three patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 in South Carolina have died. State health officials described them as elderly with underlying medical conditions.
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This is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
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