AUSTIN, Texas — Two Austin Police Department employees have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), KVUE confirmed Tuesday.
The first was reported on Monday. On Tuesday, police reported the second and clarified that one is sworn and one is a civilian.
Both employees are currently at home in quarantine, police said. The APD has notified employees that may have come in contact with these positive employees.
"The health and safety of our employees and the community is of the utmost importance and we are continuing to exercise all precautions to stop the spread of COVID-19," the department said. "We would like to remind the public to stay home and work safe."
Police officers with symptoms have been utilizing a testing site set up for first responders, APD said.
This is not the first instance of a first responder testing positive for COVID-19 in Austin-Travis County. On March 25, Austin officials confirmed an Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) medic had tested positive for the virus. At that time, KVUE Senior Reporter Tony Plohetski confirmed that the medic was under quarantine.
As of March 31, Austin-Travis County is reporting 244 cases of coronavirus, with two deaths.
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