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A Philip Morris USA employee has tested positive for COVID-19.

The Henrico County-based Altria Group Inc., one of the largest employers in the Richmond region, notified its employees in a message dated March 17 that an employee of Philip Morris USA, Altria's cigarette manufacturing subsidiary, "has been confirmed positive for COVID-19."

The company said in the message that the employee "is actively recovering and feeling well in self-quarantine at home."

Altria spokesman Steve Callahan confirmed the information on Wednesday.

Callahan declined to comment on where, specifically, the employee works. "Out of respect for their privacy, we are not going to disclose any other details," Callahan said.

Altria has about 3,300 employees in the Richmond area. Its operations in the region include its cigarette manufacturing plant just off Interstate 95 in South Richmond, its corporate headquarters on West Broad Street in Henrico and a research center in downtown Richmond.

"Like so many large employers, we've been planning for our first case," said the message to employees from Sheila Freeman, vice president of manufacturing. "Our COVID-19 task force has rigorous protocols in place to ensure both employee safety and the continuity of our work."