FLORENCE, Ky — Citigroup Inc. closed its Florence call center for several hours Monday after it learned three employees tested positive for COVID-19.

The company informed call center employees on March 22, saying the infected employees last worked in the Houston Road operations center on March 12, 13 and 16.

“The health and safety of our colleagues are our top priority,” said Citi spokesman Drew Benson in an email to WCPO. “Colleagues who worked in close proximity are being asked to stay home for 14 days. After the premises were disinfected and deep cleaned, the site reopened.”

Citi has operated the massive credit-card operations center since 1997. After a 2001 expansion, the center grew to more than 2,000 employees. Benson has not responded to questions about how many employees still work in the Houston Road complex. As of Tuesday afternoon, the center’s parking lot appeared to be about 60 percent full.

This is the second local call center to have a brush with COVID-19. Fifth Third Bank confirmed Saturday that one of its Madisonville employees tested positive for coronavirus last week.

“We are working directly with affected employees and teams, have proactively taken actions to sanitize and disinfect all offices and common areas per health official recommendations,” spokeswoman Laura Trujillo told WCPO. “They have our commitment to keep their office within social distancing guidelines.”

