On Friday, two staff members of the waste isolation pilot plant tested positive for COVID-19, in a total of nine cases among personnel related to the nuclear waste depot near Carlsbad.
The two staff members inflamed by the virus were personnel of nuclear Waste Partnership, the contractor hired through the U.S. Department of Energy to oversee WIPP’s day-to-day operations.
Employees took the test after falling ill, according to a press release, one on Wednesday and the other on Thursday.
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Of the nine that tested positive, six recovered, read the press release.
In total, five Nuclear Waste Partnership staff members have achieved positive effects since April, one from Carlsbad North Wind Portage’s technical support contractor, another from CAST Specialty Trucking who worked for WIPP at a Carlsbad truck terminal and one in Constructors Inc. subcontractors and granite construction. .
“As always, WIPP’s suitability and protection remains the most sensible priority of the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Waste Association, and WIPP continues to work with all subcontractors to ensure compliance with the Guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). . ” read a WIPP STATEMENT.
“All WIPP touch search and disinfection protocols have been followed.”
More: Fourth COVID-19 reported in Eddy County
On Thursday, the newest knowledge from the New Mexico Department of Health showed 212 new instances of COVID-19 in the state for a total of 21,773, as two new deaths that raise the number of deaths in New Mexico from the pandemic to 669.
A woguy, about 50 years old in Bernalillo County, reported that she was ill after underlying fitness problems appeared, as well as a boy in her 40s in San Juan County.
Eddy County saw nine new cases, bringing its total to 278, while Lea County recorded 23 new cases for a total of 729.
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WIPP is near the border of Eddy and Lea counties.
Bernalillo County continued to lead the state in COVID-19 cases with an aggregate Thursday for a total of 5029.
At this time, McKinley County, 8 new instances for a total of 4033 and San Juan County, the third with 10 new instances for a total of 3026.
On Thursday, the state reported that 138 patients had been hospitalized for COVID-19, 8,950 who had recovered from the virus.
Here are the COVID-19 instance totals for New Mexico County
Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, [email protected] or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.