Plant Vogtle confirms 153 COVID-19 cases; 57 employees cleared for work

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

WAYNESBORO, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Plant Vogtle managers say 153 employees of the nuclear power plant near Waynesboro have tested positive for COVID-19.

Cases at the Georgia Power facility have continued to rise in the past several days.

However, Georgia Power officials also say 46 workers are still awaiting results and 362 workers have tested negative.

Of those, 96 are active confirmed cases while 57 of these individuals have recovered and received clearance by on-site medical professionals to return to work.

"With each person tested, we act quickly, self-isolating the individuals, along with the personnel who have been in close proximity to them, immediately after learning they have been tested for COVID-19," the company said in a statement.

The site leadership remains focused on protecting the safety and health of workers at the Vogtle 3 and 4 site, and comprehensive measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will remain in place.

Plant Vogtle units 1 and 2 have been in operation for decades, but 3 and 4 have been under construction in an effort involving large numbers of workers.

Proactive measures include worker-distancing strategies, including adjusted break schedules, additional mobile facilities to add more distance between individuals onsite and suspending large group meetings and gatherings, along with an expanded onsite medical clinic, plant officials said in a statement