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Covid Outbreak Closes the City Transfer Station

Nov 18, 2020

Mayor Rob Rolison announced on Thursday that seven Department of Public Works employees have tested positive for COVID-19, and the City of Poughkeepsie is taking forceful measures to contain the spread and protect the health of its employees as well as the public at large.

POUGHKEEPSIE – Mayor Rob Rolison announced on Thursday that seven Department of Public Works employees have tested positive for COVID-19, and the City of Poughkeepsie is taking forceful measures to contain the spread and protect the health of its employees as well as the public at large. The workers testing positive are in quarantine at home.

The DPW has approximately 70 employees in the divisions of Streets, Sanitation, and Tree Service.

In response to these positive tests, the city conducted a deep cleaning of the DPW facilities on Howard Street and is closing the transfer station there to the public out of an abundance of caution.

“Our Department of Public Works employees have been on the front lines during this crisis. They do essential work, including ensuring our roads provide safe passage and that sanitation services are completed in a timely manner,” Rolison said. “We believe we can maintain essential services, but the health of our employees and the public will be a top priority.”

The city administration has been in contact with Dutchess County health officials and is following health protocols. The city has instituted contact tracing and other employees have been tested, with negative results.

“We ask the public to be patient during this time due to the current staff shortages at the Department of Public Works, including office staff,” Rolison said.

Following several more positive COVID-19 tests among city employees, City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison announced Monday City Hall will be closed to the public

as of Tuesday until further notice. Two employees who work out of City Hall tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend. Last week, the mayor announced that seven city Department of Public Works employees had tested positive, forcing the closure transfer station at the DPW facilities on Howard Street. Another DPW employee as well as a city firefighter also have now tested positive.

“It’s imperative we do what we can to protect the health of our employees and the public,” said Mayor Rolison.

The city has developed a Coronavirus Updates & Resource Guide to provide the latest information pertaining to the coronavirus (COVID-19).