Four Houston Chronicle journalists attended a conference last week where a participant has had a presumptive positive test for novel coronavirus.

Organizers for the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting (NICAR), which hosted the conference in New Orleans, issued a statement Tuesday alerting attendees of the positive test. More than 1,000 journalists attended the conference from Wednesday through midday Sunday. NICAR is part of Investigative Reporters and Editors, known as IRE.

The Chronicle journalists who were at the conference returned to work Monday and Tuesday before learning of the presumptive positive test from the other conference attendee. They will be at home for the next 14 days; other newsroom employees also are being encouraged to work at home until the space has been thoroughly cleaned.

Houston Chronicle management is developing guidance for employees in the newsroom and the building.

The statement from the organizers said the attendee has mild symptoms and is expected to make a full recovery. That person was in attendance from Thursday until Saturday afternoon, according to the statement.

IRE organizers are notifying participants who had close contact with the person.

They encouraged attendees to inform their health care providers that they attended a large gathering where a person has tested positive. Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath.