A coronavirus outbreak hit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s hurricane hunter reconnaissance base in Florida about two weeks after the start of hurricane season.
Five employees at the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center in Lakeland Linder International Airport have tested positive for COVID-19, and an undisclosed number of their co-workers have been asked to self-quarantine for two weeks, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Spokesman Jonathan Shannon said the five infected workers were last inside the facility between June 3 and June 8. A week ago, the AOC closed and cleaned workspaces associated with the infected employees.
“Hurricane hunter aircraft are flying with the minimum number of crew members necessary to conduct missions, and we have increased the cleaning of aircraft pre- and post-flight,” Shannon said. “Our medical officer is closely monitoring the health and wellness of flight crews and support personnel in accordance with CDC guidelines.”
This year’s Atlantic hurricane season has been predicted to be a busy one, raising fears about the effect it could have on the coronavirus pandemic. The season already has broken records, with Tropical Storm Cristobal setting a record for the earliest third-named storm in the Atlantic.
