Intel notified employees Saturday that someone working in a lab at its Ronler Acres campus in Hillsboro has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Workers at several large Oregon employers have tested positive previously, highlighting a dilemma for businesses and for the state, which has allowed many companies to continue operating during the outbreak. Gov. Kate Brown indicated last week she is trying to balance the health care imperatives of a pandemic with Oregonians’ economic needs.

Intel is Oregon’s largest corporate employer, with 20,000 people working at its Washington County campuses. Many of those employees are working from home but some researchers in the company’s labs and technicians in its factories have continued to report to work.

Earlier Monday, Intel CEO Bob Swan said its factories in Oregon and elsewhere “continue to operate on a relatively normal basis” during the outbreak.

The positive coronavirus test in Hillsboro is the first Intel has disclosed among its Oregon employees. Intel has acknowledged positive coronavirus tests among employees in California and Arizona, and last week the company said a construction contractor working on its Hillsboro factory expansion had tested positive.

Intel did not identify the employee diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease cause by the coronavirus. The company said the employee hadn’t been to work since March 17 and that the person’s workspace had been cleaned since then.

Additionally, Intel said it has already notified people “who may have been in close contact with this employee and asked them to self-quarantine for fourteen days.” Intel defines “close contact” as being within six feet of the infected employee for at least 30 minutes.

The governor ordered Oregonians to “stay home” a week ago to contain spread of the deadly virus. But Brown exempted construction, manufacturing and many other businesses from order – so long as employers keep their workers apart from one another and take other steps to contain the virus’ spread.

That decision has confused and concerned many Oregon workers: Hundreds have complained to the state that their employers are not following the rules.

Intel said it is taking many steps to ensure its employees remain safe.

“In addition to increased cleaning of our facilities, Intel manufacturing sites are taking extra steps to effectively implement social distancing,” the chipmaker said in a written statement Monday. “Some of these measures include staggering shift changes, adjusting meeting locations and schedules, and limiting activities that require close proximity.”

Through Sunday, Oregon has identified 548 coronavirus cases statewide and 13 deaths.

-- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway |

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