NASA California Facility Issues Work-From-Home Order After Employee Tests Positive For COVID-19

NASA announced that it had issued a mandatory work-from-home order for its employees working at its research facility in California. The space agency made the move after an employee from the facility tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

The facility affected by the ongoing health issue was NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California. NASA issued the telecommuting order for staff members of the facility on March 9.

According to the agency, it received confirmation that one of the employees of the Ames Research Center has been infected with the coronavirus. It is not yet clear how the employee was infected or if he or she had previously traveled to areas and countries with confirmed cases of COVID-19.

NASA noted that although it believes that the virus’ exposure at the facility was limited, it has ordered all of its employees to start working from home as an added precaution.

“On Sunday, March 8, we received confirmation that an Ames employee tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19),” NASA said in a statement.

“We believe the exposure at the center has been limited, but — out of an abundance of caution, and in consultation with NASA Headquarters and the NASA Chief Health and Medical Officer in accordance to agency response plans — Ames Research Center will temporarily go to a mandatory telework status until further notice,” it continued.

According to NASA, it is not yet clear how long the current telecommuting setup at the Ames Research Facility will last. Also, the agency did not go into detail regarding the quarantine protocols it is currently carrying out in the center while its employees are at home.

The agency stated that it intends to release additional guidelines for its employees who do not have the proper equipment to work from their homes. NASA will also coordinate with staff members who would need special laboratory equipment to carry out their work.

“NASA’s Ames Research Center will temporarily go to MANDATORY telework status effective immediately and until further notice,” NASA explained. “More guidance will follow for those who do not have equipment to work from home or who work in labs or other facilities requiring similar technical equipment that are fixed assets.”