Yellowstone National Park confirms 16 of its estimated 2,000 employees tested positive for COVID-19 since the first week of September.
Park officials said in a media release that the positive tests were among seven National Park Service employees and nine concession employees. The positive tests account for about 0.8 percent of YNP’s workforce, according to the release.
YNP said eight of the 16 individuals have recovered, with the remaining eight still in recovery. All 16 were isolated following CDC and local county public health guidelines.
Contact tracing was conducted with assistance by Park County, MT and Park County, WY. The release said no further information would be released about the positive cases “in order to protect each employee’s privacy.”
YNP said increased employee surveillance testing has resulted in more than 1,100 tests conducted since the first week of September, and more than 3,000 since the park reopened in May.
There have been four positive employee cases between May 18 and August 30, according to YNP.
Park officials said they will continue to provide routine COVID-19 updates at www.nps.gov/yell.