To SSMRC millwrights working at the Georgia Power Plant Vogtle Units 3 & 4 site: The SSMRC would like to pass along the following information Southern Nuclear sent our union today. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to your business agent or our council.
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On April 22, 17 people working at Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 construction site tested positive for COVID-19. This is the highest one-day total since testing began at the site and brings the total number of positive test results among workers at the site to 109.
How Vogtle is responding to positive test results
We are self-isolating each person tested, along with the personnel who have been in close proximity to them, immediately after learning they have been tested for COVID-19.
How to protect yourself and others
Cloth face coverings are available on site. We encourage you to employ this recommended action as a part of your daily work activities, as long as the face covering does not interfere with other safety standards. In the event you are running into challenges with wearing a face covering while complying with site safety standards, please work with your supervisor to determine how best to address. Please note, wearing a face covering should
not
take the place of doing our part to practice social distancing.
Protocols for returning to work
Prior to returning to work, individuals who tested positive for coronavirus and have recovered will undergo medical screening by our on-site medical team. Team members who did not exhibit any symptoms but were self-isolating due to being in close proximity to someone with a positive test result will be eligible to return to work after 14 days of self-isolation and clearance by our on-site medical staff.
As of April 22, 10 individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered and are available to return to work. Additionally, 88 individuals who did not exhibit any symptoms but were self-isolating due to being in close proximity to someone with a positive test result have cleared their 14-day self-isolation and are available to return to work.
A project schedule change is being implemented. RCC craft and Bechtel Field Non-Manuals will move to a five-day, 10-hour work week schedule. Work on Saturdays and Sundays will be limited scope. This schedule will continue until further notice.
Testing system
We have made a concerted effort to facilitate COVID-19 testing for our workers, identify those in close proximity to workers being tested so they can self-isolate, and respond quickly when notified of a positive result. An important part of that response to any confirmed positive results has been to move as swiftly as possible to offer testing to those who were in close proximity.
Offering testing at our on-site medical clinic has enabled us to administer COVID-19 tests to a much greater population of workers. We have also worked with independent labs to receive expedited results, averaging 24-48 hours to get those results.
This testing ability has resulted in two outcomes. One has been an increase in the number of people being tested which includes asymptomatic individuals who are close contacts to someone who has tested positive, which is increasing our number of positive cases. Even though some of the people we are testing are asymptomatic, we are finding a number of positives among them.
Medical clinic services
- Free testing, no copays and access to dedicated medical professionals 24/7.
- Wait time for COVID test results: 24-48 hours
Medical staff at the clinic do not determine testing eligibility of close proximities. Workers who have been in close proximity to another worker who has tested positive for COVID-19 will be notified by their supervisors that they are able to receive a COVID-19 test at the onsite medical clinic. Once notified, workers can then be tested by setting up an appointment using the reservation hotlines listed below. Scheduling close-proximity-associated testing helps improve the efficiency of our medical clinic as we aim to provide each worker that may be feeling ill with the care they need.
What is close proximity and what to do if you have been in close proximity to someone with the virus
We continue to take the same immediate precautionary actions with each person tested or under clinician-directed isolation as we would if we
were notified of a confirmed case
. Th
is includes identifying team members who have been in close proximity to the individuals being tested and sending them home to self-isolate. Close proximity is determined by being within six feet for at least 10 minutes or being coughed upon. Currently, approximately 455 workers are self-isolating under these precautionary actions.
Reservations required for close-proximity testing
A reservation hotline has been set up to accommodate appointments for workers who have been in close proximity to another worker who has tested positive for COVID-19. Those who are eligible will be notified that they are able to receive a COVID-19 test at the onsite medical clinic. Reservations may be made:
- 7 a.m.-7 p.m., seven days a week
- By calling 706-437-7679 or 706-437-7670
Scheduling close-proximity-associated testing helps improve the efficiency of our medical clinic as we aim to provide each worker that may be feeling ill with the care they need.
What to do if you feel sick
Anyone feeling ill should visit the clinic or call the flu hotline at 706-437-7600. In case of a medical emergency on the construction site, call the Emergency Response Team at 706-360-2510.
Testing Status
Numbers below show updated test results as of April 22 for the Vogtle 3&4 team members we have been tracking.
415 -
Vogtle 3&4 team members tested for COVID-19
264 -
Confirmed Negative
109 -
Confirmed Positive
42 -
Test Results Pending
Numbers below show laboratory confirmed cases in counties surrounding the site.
