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At Least 8 City Employees Have Tested Positive for COVID, Records Show
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By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
August 27, 2020

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At least eight Fresno city employees have contracted COVID-19, according to mandatory notices sent by the city’s personnel department.

GV Wire viewed eight notices sent between Aug. 7 and Aug. 27. The city would not confirm whether the notices represent the total number of employees who have tested positive for the virus, or in which departments the affected individuals worked, citing privacy concerns.

“The figure is low for an organization of 3,700 employees over a 5-month period and, frankly, on any given workday, the City has a number of employees who call in sick for a variety of illnesses and symptoms,” City Hall spokesman Mark Standriff said via email.

Most Recent Notice Sent Today

“We are working hard every day to reduce the spread of this pandemic and are proud of the positive response from our employees during this stressful time.”City spokesman Mark Standriff

“Yesterday, Management received confirmation a City of Fresno employee tested positive for COVID-19,” an email notice sent to employees said.

As with the prior notices, the date of the employee’s last day on the job and approximately where the employee last worked are included.

For the notice sent today, the employee worked at a city facility and city field work in the northwest part of town.

The notice also includes information on the protocols implemented by the city, including advising others who are known to have come in contact with the COVID-positive employee, as well as cleaning and sanitizing procedures.

“As always, the safety and health of all City employees is our top priority as we strive to ensure the continuous delivery of services to our community. We cannot control what happens to our employees when they are off the clock. We can only control their environment while at work by using the highest level of health and safety measures available,” Standriff said.

The city requires employee temperature screenings and COVID self-assessments prior to starting the work day. City Hall receives a disinfecting fog every Saturday, and a deep cleaning in the area where a COVID-positive employee last worked.

“We are working hard every day to reduce the spread of this pandemic and are proud of the positive response from our employees during this stressful time,” Standriff said.

Councilman, Union Leader Say System Works

Photo of Nelson Esparza

“The City is leading by example for all employers on its own ordinance. Workers have a right to know if COVID is in their workplace and so the ordinance is serving its purpose.”Councilman Nelson Esparza

The city council passed an ordinance last month requiring any employer in the city, including the city itself, to notify employees if a worker contracted COVID.

“The City is leading by example for all employers on its own ordinance. Workers have a right to know if COVID is in their workplace and so the ordinance is serving its purpose,” said Nelson Esparza, the councilman who drafted the ordinance.

Sam Frank, president of the Fresno City Employees Association union, said the city’s diligence on social distancing, providing protective equipment and working from home has paid off.

“I think that reflects in the relatively low numbers of employees so far that have gotten COVID-19,” Frank said. “They get an ‘A’ from the employees’ perspective as far as keeping the numbers down.”

Listing of Notices Sent

Date Notice Sent Employee’s Last Work Date Locations Worked
Aug. 7, 2020 July 17, 2020 City facilities and city field work in southwest
Aug. 7, 2020 July 26, 2020 City facilities in central Fresno
Aug. 7, 2020 July 28, 2020 City facilities in southwest
Aug. 12, 2020 July 10, 2020 City Hall; city field work in southeast and central
Aug. 15, 2020 Aug. 7, 2020 City facilities and city field work in southeast
Aug. 18, 2020 Aug. 6, 2020 Municipal Service Center; field work southwest, northwest and central
Aug. 25, 2020 Aug. 21, 2020 Municipal Service Center; city field work in northwest, northeast, southeast and central
Aug. 27, 2020 Aug. 12, 2020 City facilities and city field work in northwest

Copy of Most Recent Notice



City COVID Notice (Text)

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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