‘Move swiftly’: Mecklenburg leaders worry about COVID-19 risks at construction sites

Mecklenburg County leaders pushed the health director Tuesday night for greater transparency into coronavirus outbreaks at construction sites, renewing concerns about an industry allowed to operate under the local stay-at-home order.

Public Health Director Gibbie Harris couldn’t tell the county commissioners how many construction sites were affected, though she said the issue had “just come to our attention.”

A bakery facility in Mecklenburg also had a “cluster” of coronavirus cases, she revealed.

“We’re not talking about an entire (construction) crew,” Harris told the commissioners during their virtual meeting. “These folks quite often work closely together. We’re not seeing the use of masks; we’re not seeing social distancing.”

About five to seven construction workers might have been infected with COVID-19 at those individual sites, though Harris said there could be “possibly more than that.”

County Commissioner Vilma Leake said she wants an accurate presentation of conditions at construction sites, not just a “washover.” It was a known fact, Leake said, that construction workers were put at risk due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“I’m hoping that whatever takes place, we will move swiftly to impact that group of individuals,” Leake said. “That bothers me seriously. I hope they will not feel the lateness of starting to help them.”

Elaine Powell, vice chair of the commissioners, said she’s heard from numerous residents concerned about construction workers and possible COVID-19 exposure risks.

Officials said they won’t divulge, for now, the specific construction sites with COVID-19 cases.

“We are aware of some clusters of cases of COVID-19 likely linked to worksite exposures and will release further details if there is a public health reason to do so,” county spokesperson Rebecca Carter told The Charlotte Observer.

Four construction workers at the Charlotte Convention Center tested positive for COVID-19, the Observer reported Tuesday afternoon.

Workers were immediately quarantined for 14 days, the contractor for the $127 million expansion project said. The exterior portion of the building they were working on was shut down for deep cleaning for several hours.

High case count among Hispanics

Harris called the spike in cases at construction sites “outbreaks” earlier Tuesday, during the county’s business leaders roundtable discussion.

But she told the commissioners that terminology is intended for nursing homes and long-term care facilities with two or more laboratory-confirmed cases, based on state and federal health guidance.

“No such definition has been established for other settings, like businesses and construction sites,” Harris said. “We are doing some significant work with construction sites to improve their ability to provide the appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) and to enforce social distancing.”

Harris said the county will pursue expanded outreach and education, as well.

Rocio Gonzales, executive director of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce, had urged construction companies to better protect workers during Tuesday’s roundtable discussion.

“I would like to know what efforts are being done in making them responsible,” she said Tuesday.

More than one-third of Mecklenburg’s coronavirus cases are among Hispanic residents. Officials called the disproportionate impact a “significant concern,” attributing the high case volume to pre-existing disparities, such as poverty, and a higher rate of Hispanic individuals still working at essential jobs during the coronavirus outbreak.

Yet throughout Mecklenburg, Harris said, there’s been a decline in community spread of the coronavirus in recent weeks. The percentage of positive COVID-19 tests is slightly decreasing, and hospitalizations are stable, Harris told the commissioners.

This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 11:20 PM.