2 Rock Hill Police Department employees positive for coronavirus, city officials say
Two Rock Hill Police Department employees have tested positive for coronavirus, city officials said.
It is unclear if the two employees contracted the COVID-19 disease through their jobs or somewhere else, said police department Lt. Michael Chavis.
Other employees and members of the public who had contact with the two employees were notified by city officials, Chavis said.
“The employees had very little contact with citizens or with other employees,” Chavis said.
Officials have not released if the two employees were sworn officers, or have other administrative duties in the department.
Both employees have been quarantined for 14 days, and told to stay home until symptoms abate, Chavis said.
The employees are among 16 employees with the city of Rock Hill who have been told to stay home out of an abundance of caution after possible exposure to the virus, said Rock Hill City Manager David Vehaun.
The city has around a thousand employees, Vehaun said.
City employees have 80 hours of leave time if any need to stay home to ensure their safety and the safety of others during the pandemic, Vehaun said.
“We are doing all we can to tell our employees if they are not feeling well to stay at home,” Vehaun said.
Other police department and city staff have been advised of the positive tests, said both Chavis and Vehaun.
Kevin Sutton, Rock Hill city councilman, said top leaders were advised of the positive tests of police employees. City officials will continue to support first responders who must deal with the public during the pandemic, Sutton said.
“Our top priority is the safety of the public and the safety of our first responders,” Sutton said. “It is unfortunate that we have had two people test positive. Hopefully there will not be any long-term effects for them.”
As of Monday morning, York County has 85 reported cases of the virus, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. Two people in York County have died after contracting the coronavirus, according to South Carolina health officials.
Now, the confirmed cases of the two Rock Hill law enforcement employees make a total of four in York County.
On Sunday, Chief of the Clover Police Department Randy Grice confirmed that an officer tested positive for the virus. The officer is quarantined at home, Grice said. York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson confirmed on Friday an employee with the agency tested positive and is one of five employees quarantined.
On Monday, company officials confirmed a resident and staff member at Chandler Place Assisted Living and Memory Care in Rock Hill have tested positive for the virus.
This is a developing a story. Check back for updates.
