Interior shuts Washington Monument after interior secretary tests positive for the coronavirus
Source: Washington Post
Park Service staff say they may have been exposed when David Bernhardt led a private, after-hours tour
Dec. 18, 2020 at 11:18 a.m. CST
Officials have taken the extraordinary step of closing the Washington Monument starting Friday as a precaution after Interior Secretary David Bernhardt — who had been giving private, nighttime tours to associates — tested positive for the coronavirus.
Interior spokesman Nicholas Goodwin confirmed the temporary closure, saying the department acted after consulting with federal health officials. Bernhardt had led other Trump DOI appointees on a tour earlier this week. Some National Park Service staff at the site said they had been exposed to the secretary during his after-hours tour and are now in quarantine, which has led to a staffing shortage at the monument, Goodwin said.
“As we do in all circumstances when an employee attests to having covid-19, we work with our public health officials to ensure all guidance from the CDC is followed, such as identifying close contacts and cleaning areas as appropriate,” Goodwin said. “The Secretary was recently at the Washington Monument. In working with our public officials and out of an abundance of caution, a couple of employees have quarantined resulting in a temporary workforce reduction at the monument and its temporary closure.”....................................
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/12/18/washington-monument-david-bernhardt-covid/
I hardly think these are essential activities with the virus in full gear.
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The COVID Memorial Project placed 20,000 American flags near the Washington Monument to memorialize the 200,000+ coronavirus deaths in the United States since the pandemic began. An interfaith memorial service was held Sept. 22 in Washington. (Amanda Voisard for The Washington Post). (Amanda Voisard/for The Washington Post)
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