KEY POINTS

  • 25 employees working at the the Federal Emergency Management Agency have tested positive for COVID-19
  • The spread came after one employee who was stationed at the National Response Coordinating Center tested positive for the virus
  • The positive employee was the first case to be reported by FEMA's NRCC

The ill effects caused by COVID-19 has made its way to the halls of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and infected more than 20 employees as of Tuesday.

A FEMA spokesperson confirmed through an email sent to NBC News that 25 of its employees tested positive for COVID-19. The spread came after one employee who was stationed at the National Response Coordinating Center – the agency's “nerve center” of disaster preparedness and response – tested positive for the virus.

An administration official told Politico that the COVID-19-positive employee was the first case to be reported by FEMA's NRCC.

WHO has warned dwindling supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers will put lives at risk
WHO has warned dwindling supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers will put lives at risk AFP / MAHMUD HAMS

FEMA employees left the center after the test results came back to pave way for “aggressive deep cleaning” of the facility in accordance with the guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Agency also urged workers who have been in close contact with that person to self-isolate themselves and continue their work at home.

“It poses another challenge because we have to keep our employees safe but at the same time do your jobs to help America recover from the pandemic,” added the outlet, citing the official's statement.

Following the confirmation, and the fact that the infection had already spread to a chunk of the agency's workforce, an anonymous person “familiar with the response effort” said that people at FEMA are “dropping like flies,” said NBC News, although another source declined to disclose how many employees are assigned at the NRCC.

The network also reported last week that a “partner” of the Supply Chain Resilience task force – the unit responsible for “getting, shipping and distributing” essential goods to fight COVID-19 – tested positive for the flu-like virus.

FEMA sent an email to its employees, stating that all employees of the task force and those at the Conference Center are required to telework

The agency also pushed for a 24/7 “no-contact temperature screenings” where employees who have a fever of 100.4 degrees or above are not allowed to enter the premises. FEMA likewise promoted social distancing through their decision to let NRCC employees work from home, while others have spread to different areas of the FEMA headquarters, according to Politico.

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