The Energy Department late Friday confirmed the 18th case of novel coronavirus 2019 infection among the workforce at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, adding that 13 employees have recovered and returned to work.
The facility, located along the border with Georgia, accounts for more than half of the 28 confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the 16 nuclear cleanup sites overseen by DOE’s Office of Environmental Management.
The 18 cases represent an increase of three from SRS’s previously reported total of 15. Site officials did not release any details about the three most-recently infected individuals.
On its website, the Savannah River Site operations office said “planning continues for a phased approach to bring all facilities back up to normal operations,” while providing controls to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The facility has reduced its on-site workforce to a fraction of the usual total of about 11,000 since late March, when it transitioned to essential mission-critical operations. Most employees are either working remotely or collecting paid leave until getting the green light to return to the jobsite.
Prior to COVID-19 forcing reduced operations at Savannah River and most other sites, the Energy Department and contractor Parsons expected the Salt Waste Processing Facility to open in March or April. Parsons did not immediately respond to an email last week on where things stand now. The local Aiken Standard on Friday reported that a site spokesperson said that officials are considering “potential project and regulatory impacts” of the work reduction.
Site prime Savannah River Nuclear Solutions wants to postpone emergency preparedness drills now schedule for July 31 due to the COVID-19 response, according to a Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board memo dated May 1.
