A contract construction worker who has been performing work on UNC campus recently tested positive for COVID-19.

In an email to graduates students and researchers on Tuesday, leadership for UNC’s Department of Chemistry said they were recently alerted a construction worker completing projects in the Morehead Labs and Murray Hall has the coronavirus. The message said individual had been working in an isolated construction area for both buildings and risk of infection to others in the building is expected to be very low.

The news comes just more than one week after limited research operations restarted on the university’s campus following a months-long reduction attempting to mitigate any spread of COVID-19. Some of the UNC research enterprise returned on June 1 with guidance for workplace expectations and hygiene during the ongoing pandemic. At the moment, the only on site work permitted is that which can’t be done remotely and all individuals are required to wear university-approved face masks when in a UNC building.

Tuesday’s email to researchers said the county health department where the construction worker resides may be reaching out to those considered to have close contact and potential exposure. The Department of Chemistry encouraged anyone who feels sick or experiences any symptoms of illness to stay home.

According to the Carolina Together website, the university’s aims to increase to full campus operations through July before students return for the start of the fall semester in August. For additional information on how UNC is adapting to the coronavius pandemic, visit its webpage dedicated to COVID-19.

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