FALMOUTH, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio)—The Steamship Authority reported that two employees have tested positive for COVID-19.
One employee is assigned to the M/V Gay Head, which serves the Hyannis-Nantucket route. The other employee is assigned to the M/V Martha’s Vineyard, which serves the Woods Hole-Martha’s Vineyard route.
The employee assigned to the M/V Gay Head last worked Jan. 16, 2021 from 5:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
The employee started feeling ill two days after their shift and then received a positive test on Jan. 20.
The employee assigned to the M/V Martha’s Vineyard last worked on the vessel starting with the 12 p.m. trip from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021 and ending with the vessel’s 11:30 a.m. arrival in Woods Hole on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021.
The employee starting having COVID-19 symptoms Monday Jan. 18, 2021 and received a positive test two days later.
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As a result, the Authority is taking additional sanitizing steps to ensure the safety of the public and its employees. The Steamship Authority cleans every vessel daily with hospital-grade disinfectants—focusing on all high-touch areas, including hand railings, table tops, door handles, seats, faucets, and toilets.
Also, crews are assigned nightly to perform cleaning and disinfectant measures onboard the vessels.
The Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment and Cape Cod Healthcare are requiring employees that were in close proximity to the affected employees to get a COVID-19 test.
Those employees will not be allowed to return to work until after a negative test result is received or are cleared to work by a medical professional.
Employees have been instructed that, under no circumstances, should they come to work while they are sick, both for their safety as well as for the safety of the crew and traveling public. They are also instructed to wear a cloth face mask at all times and wash their hands frequently.
No operational changes or interruptions are anticipated as a result of these incidents.
Written by Edyn Jensen
(Photo: Getty Images)
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