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UPDATED: Carmeuse employees on self-quarantine after exposure

ROGERS CITY — Multiple Carmeuse Lime and Stone employees have been asked to self-quarantine after two employees became ill after working alongside a contractor earlier this month who later tested positive for the coronavirus.

Other employees were asked to self-quarantine after coming in contact with the two employees who had worked with the infected contractor.

It isn’t clear if the two Carmeuse employees have COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, because those employees reported only today for testing, Carmeuse spokesman Kevin Whyte said.

One of the two employees was tested, while the other was denied at the testing site. Whyte said the reason provided was “the rules for testing had just changed,” and that the employee was not a health care or emergency medical services worker, is younger than 60, and is not in critical condition.

Whyte said company officials were scheduled to meet with District Health Department No. 4 officials at 2:15 p.m. today.

“Until we obtain clarification, we will not know exactly how many people will be quarantined,” Whyte said in an email. “All testing is determined by medical professionals.”

Michigan’s latest figures updated Wednesday show no confirmed cases among residents of Alpena, Presque Isle, Montmorency, or Alcona counties.

Carmeuse Americas on Tuesday was informed that a contractor, who was on site at the Calcite operation in Rogers City between March 9 and March 11, became ill after leaving the Calcite plant. The contractor sought medical treatment in Canada and on March 24 was confirmed to have COVID-19, a statement from the company said.

Two employees from the crew that worked alongside the contractor developed flu-like symptoms. Although they have not been tested for coronavirus, they have been asked to self-quarantine.

The other members of the crew who came into contact with the contractor were not asked to self-quarantine because they are beyond the 14-day window when symptoms would show.

“In the meantime, we have been in close contact with McLaren Medical and following their advice, have asked those employees working closely with the self-quarantined employees to self-quarantine until the first of April as a precaution,” spokesman Kevin Whyte said in the press release. “We are relieved to report that our employees who are ill, are doing well and are recovering at home, as is the contractor employee.”

Whyte said the company is working closely with the health department and following their recommendations. The company is also following all guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure the health and safety of its employees.

Denise Bryan, administrative health officer with District Health Department No. 4, was not immediately available for comment.

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