Courthouse gets a ‘deep clean’ after employees test positive for COVID-19
Published 8:52 pm Tuesday, November 17, 2020
- Angie Jackson, left, and Kim Sheets, both with ServPro of Lexington, disinfect and wipe down surfaces in the Boyle County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday afternoon. (Photo by Robin Hart)
An outbreak of positive COVID-19 cases among a few employees at the Boyle County Courthouse were reported on Monday and Tuesday. And by Tuesday afternoon the entire courthouse had been professionally sanitized so that business can continue as normal, said Boyle County Judge-Executive Howard Hunt. “There will be no closures.”
“Over the past two days, we have learned that several of our own employees have tested positive; so my office immediately contacted Brent Blevins of the Boyle County Health Department. With Brent’s guidance, we devised a plan for addressing the situation. Internally, I have reiterated several measures such as requiring masks for all guests and staff, social distancing guidelines,” Hunt said in a news release.
Angie Jackson, with ServPro of Lexington, wipes down desk items in the Boyle County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday. (Photo by Robin Hart)
“I want the public to be confident that the Boyle County Courthouse has been sanitized and we are practicing all Healthy at Work protocols so that we can conduct business in a safe manner,” he added. “The courthouse remains open and accessible for those who have business within the building. … It’s OK to come in.” He added, “It’s been deep cleaned.”
Hunt said there wasn’t a large number of positive cases, “But there were enough to be worried,” and they took “immediate action in response to the situation.”
Hunt said extra precautionary measures will also be taken. “Effective immediately, we will not permit any person to enter the courthouse or any offices without a properly worn mask, covering both the nose and mouth. Furthermore, all guests will be subjected to a temperature check prior to admittance into the building.”
County Administrator Julie Wagner said the state Administrative Office of the Courts has mandated that the courts could not close because of the pandemic. So upon hearing of the outbreak, Boyle Circuit Judge Darren Peckler contacted the cleaning service ServPro of Lexington at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday and a disinfecting staff of six was there by 12:30 p.m.
When cleaning began in the district and circuit court offices on the second and third floors, Wagner said that staff was sent home.
Kim Sheets, with ServPro of Lexington, sprays a disinfectant in the Boyle County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday. (Photo by Robin Hart)
By about 3 p.m., sanitizing and wiping all surfaces with a disinfectant was finished on the first floor and employees in the county clerk’s offices were sent home early.
All courthouse offices will reopen for regular business hours on Wednesday, Hunt said. And employees in each department will be taking extra measures to sanitize their work surfaces throughout the work day.
Hunt said that the courthouse is now “certified disinfected clean.”
