City Reports Six New COVID-19 Cases in Past Week

Bloomington, Ind. - Four employees in the Sanitation Division of the Department of Public Works (DPW) and two Bloomington Fire Department (BFD) employees reported receiving positive results of COVID-19 viral tests over the last week. Three of the following Sanitation Division cases were reported Sunday, September 26 in an announcement of the resulting recycling service delays. Details of each case reported over the last week are as follows:

• One Sanitation employee began experiencing symptoms on Friday, September 24, receiving a positive result on Saturday, September 25. Coworkers identified as close contacts were notified; no members of the public were identified as close contacts.  

• One Sanitation employee  began experiencing symptoms on Friday, September 24, receiving a positive result on Saturday, September 25. Coworkers identified as close contacts were notified; no members of the public were identified as close contacts.  

• One Sanitation employee began experiencing symptoms on Thursday, September 23, receiving a positive result on Sunday, September 26. Coworkers identified as close contacts were notified; no members of the public were identified as close contacts.  

• One Sanitation employee began experiencing symptoms on Friday, September 24, receiving a positive result on Monday, September 27. This employee had been identified as a close contact of one of the aforementioned cases.  However, no co-workers or members of the public were in turn identified as close contacts. 

• One BFD employee began experiencing symptoms on Saturday, September 25, receiving a positive result on Sunday, September 26. No co-workers or members of the public were identified as close contacts. 

• One BFD employee began experiencing symptoms on Friday, September 24, receiving a positive result on Monday, September 27. No co-workers or members of the public were identified as close contacts. 

“Close contact” is defined by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as someone who was within six feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from two days before illness onset--or, for asymptomatic clients, two days prior to positive specimen collection--until the time the patient is isolated. 

The 18 positive COVID-19 viral test results reported by City workers in September is the highest monthly number in 2021. In all, 113 positive COVID-19 viral test results have been reported since the start of the pandemic by City workers, including those employed by the municipal corporations that operate the water utility (City of Bloomington Utilities), transit system (Bloomington Transit), and public housing (Bloomington Housing Authority).  Additionally, COVID-19 was listed among the causes of death of one City worker.  

Data about COVID-19 cases among City employees, in the county, the state and the nation are presented at this online dashboard. Other City-related updates about the COVID-19 pandemic are assembled here.  

The City of Bloomington is committed to sharing information about how its operations and workforce are affected by this public health emergency, and will continue to provide weekly updates about confirmed cases among staff while protecting employees’ privacy.