Coronavirus CT: DMV Executive Tests Positive For Virus

WETHERSFIELD, CT – A Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicle officials has tested positive for the new coronavirus.

DMV Commissioner Sibongile Magubane announced Monday that an executive team member who works within the agency's Wethersfield office was confirmed to have COVID-19. The employee holds an administrative position and does not service the general public visiting the DMV for transactions, officials said in a press release. The person has not been to work since March 10 and is currently at home recovering.

Others at the agency who may have come into contact with this person have been notified and are also self-monitoring in their respective homes for 14 days. In addition, out of an abundance of caution, the Wethersfield DMV office will be closed through Wednesday to allow for a deep cleaning and will reopen on Thursday. (To stay on top of real-time coronavirus updates in your town and Connecticut sign up for Patch’s free newsletter here.)

"The safety of the visiting public and our employees is our greatest concern, which is why all of our staff members who may have had contact with this employee have been notified and are self-monitoring as well," said Magubane in the release. "I must stress that this person did not have contact with any members of the public who came to our office to conduct business and worked solely within our administrative offices."

On Sunday, as part of his ongoing efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Governor Ned Lamont signed an executive order that among other things authorizes Magubane to close DMV branches to the public and extend certain deadlines. The commissioner is currently determining a plan for DMV branch closures and is expected to announce those actions soon. The governor’s decision to take this action in the executive order is unrelated to the employee who tested positive and was out of a general abundance of caution to protect the residents of Connecticut, according to the release.

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