Hi everyone, it’s Kevin. Today is Thursday, May 7. (Click here for podcast.)
Since my last podcast, we’ve had no new cases of COVID-19.
In Tuesday’s podcast I told you about the next step we’re taking to protect our workforce and help control the spread of COVID-19. Tomorrow, Friday, May 8, we will begin our testing program in a tent set up in the Groton shipyard near the wet-dock cafeteria. Testing will be scheduled through our training system and each supervisor will be scheduled with a specific time slot in the coming days. Given the strides we’ve made together to address this disease, I expect each of you to participate in this testing. These tests are offered free of charge to EB employees and can help better inform you about whether or not you have been exposed to COVID-19. Testing will also help us all better understand what actions we may need to take to protect you while we focus on our critical mission.
Let’s talk about the tests. The first test is an antigen test to detect COVID-19. It consists of a simple nasal swab that is self-administered and then packaged and transported to a lab for analysis. The results will be available within a couple of days. This test will help us determine if anyone has an active infection.
The second test is antibody testing. This test consists of a finger prick to draw a drop of blood and is administered by trained personnel. It provides results in about 10 minutes. The test is designed to determine if you have COVID-19 antibodies, which means you have had the disease and your body has successfully fought it off. If you test positive for COVID-19 antibodies using the antibody test, a second blood draw will be performed by a licensed phlebotomist and sent to an offsite lab for further confirmation.
We are scheduling testing by work groups. Your supervisor will receive an electronic invitation for an allotted day and time to bring his or her group to the specified testing location. Tomorrow we’ll start this process with several hundred employees and the one testing location near the wet dock cafeteria to refine our process. On Monday, we’ll add a testing location on the third floor of Building 88 to expand the number of employees we can test. Over the next several weeks we’ll continue testing to include employees at Quonset Point and New London.
Please remember to wear an appropriate face covering and observe social distancing at all times, including when you and your work team get tested. The process will be similar to how we conduct cholesterol testing at our health fairs, but with medical staff, volunteers and employees all wearing appropriate face coverings and practicing social distancing.
Testing is an important tool that will provide valuable health information as we move forward through this pandemic, and can help limit the spread of COVID-19 at EB and in the community. Tests have been challenging to access, and I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to get tested to make informed healthcare decisions.
In the meantime, let’s continue to stay disciplined on the basics to protect ourselves, our team mates and our families:
• Maintain a safe distance of 6-feet or more from your colleagues
• Wear a face covering while at work
• Wash your hands with soap and water and use hand sanitizer
• And most importantly, stay home if you are sick.
Thanks for listening.
Kevin
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