Medford Coronavirus Update: 300+ Cases, City Hall Worker Positive

MEDFORD, MA — Nineteen people have died of the coronavirus at long-term care facilities in Medford, Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said Tuesday. The city now has more than 300 confirmed cases of the virus, including an employee at City Hall, which was closed and disinfected. City staff has been working remotely since late last week.

"Earlier this week a staff member at City Hall informed the Board of Health staff that he was experiencing what was then determined to be mild symptoms associated with COVID-19. The employee, who does not work in an office that directly services members of the public, was directed to immediately go home and consult his physician," Lungo-Koehn said in a statement Friday. "Upon that consultation he was given a presumptive positive diagnosis without a COVID-19 test."

As of Tuesday, there were 323 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, according to the latest numbers from the city. Lungo-Koehn signed a new emergency order requiring residents visiting essential businesses to wear cloth face coverings when inside these buildings.

The order also requires all employees of essential businesses to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when interacting with the public and when they are within six feet of coworkers. The order extends to employees and customers of food establishments offering takeout services, and to any member of the public entering or exiting a residential or commercial building larger than one unit.

City staff has been directed to maintain communication with residents and continue City Hall business to the greatest extent possible.