Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials said that 23 agency employees have tested positive for the coronavirus and more than 300 have self quarantined .

Besides the 23 who tested positive, 13 workers are awaiting tests and another 331 self-quarantined and 164 had previously self-quarantined, got medical attention and returned to work, said Rick Cotton , executive director, who was diagnosed positive for coronavirus earlier in the month.

“Very few directly interacted with the public in any sustained way,” he said.

While officials did not identify which facilities those employees work at, most of the affected employees worked in operation centers and a number of them were Port Authority Police officers, he said. Police have been assisting Center for Disease control officials who are screening passengers for coronavirus at international arrival terminals at the airports.

Protocols have been put in place including dividing employees in the “A” and “B” groups to stagger start and quitting times to minimize contact between large groups of workers, Cotton said. About 3,000 employees are working remotely, which is a number Cotton said he expects to increase.

Work spaces have been spread out to enforce social distancing, with front line employees shaving the greatest change in routine. The Port Authority has about 7,000 employees.

At least one construction site at LaGuardia airport had to be shut down after a worker tested positive, Cotton said. Other construction sites have had “temporary work stoppages for deep cleanings," he said.

“Both my wife and I have now tested negative for COVID-19,” Cotton said during a teleconference board meeting. “We are now doing well and we’re glad none of the people on staff who were quarantined because of me did not become sick.”

Board Chairman Kevin O’Toole joked and said Cotton had “no recovery period” because he was “fully engaged” during his two-week quarantine at home with conference calls.

“My wife had a harder time than I did. Her recovery is complete,” Cotton said. “It was probably the longest period of togetherness (in one place) in our marriage, but our marriage is strong.”

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