Maine DHHS Closes Maine CDC Building to the Public in Response to Confirmed COVID-19 Case

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) - AUGUSTA— The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has closed the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) building at 286 Water St. to the public after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.

The employee is self-isolating. DHHS was informed of the positive test result on Tuesday afternoon and notified employees of 286 Water St. As is protocol for any case of COVID-19, Maine CDC is conducting an epidemiological investigation and notifying close contacts of the affected individual.

In order to abide by privacy requirements, DHHS is limited in releasing further information about this case. We wish our employee a speedy recovery.

DHHS closed the Water Street building to the public on Wednesday and closed four floors to employees as the investigation continues. Affected employees are working remotely. The building has been cleaned and sanitized per guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and will reopen as soon as possible.

Due to actions taken earlier this year by DHHS to limit the number of people in Department buildings to prevent the spread of COVID-19, most Maine CDC staff have been working remotely. The partial closure of the building at 286 Water St. does not affect testing or distribution of personal protective equipment, which takes place in other Maine CDC facilities. Epidemiological investigation of COVID-19 cases, including contact tracing, is ongoing.

All DHHS offices have instituted appropriate physical distancing, face covering, and sanitation policies.

Measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 should be taken seriously regardless of the setting, including maintaining physical distance, wearing a face covering, avoiding gatherings, staying home if you’re not feeling well, and speaking to your health care provider if you experience symptoms consistent with COVID-19, such as shortness of breath, fever, and cough.