DPS says Carrollton driver license employee actually tested negative for COVID-19
This story has been updated to reflect DPS’ announcement on March 23 that the Carrollton employee actually tested negative.
After announcing last week that a Texas Department of Public Safety employee who works at a driver license office in Carrollton had tested positive for COVID-19, the agency said Monday that the employee had actually tested negative.
“In our efforts to notify and work with the public health authorities, it has been brought to the department’s attention that this individual provided us with false information, and in fact, the individual had tested negative for COVID-19. The department is taking the appropriate disciplinary actions against this employee for providing false information,” a statement from DPS read.
Last Thursday, DPS announced in a news release that the Carrollton employee, who was last in the office on March 13, was one of two people who work for DPS who had COVID-19. The other works at a DPS recruiting office in Belton, the agency had said.
DPS also announced Monday that a new employee who works at a training operations office in Waco had been confirmed to have COVID-19. The employee was last in the office on March 16, according to DPS.
A spokesman for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said last week the state did not know of the positive test results on Wednesday, when it ordered driver license offices throughout the state closed.
Staff writer Tessa Weinberg contributed to this story.
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 11:10 PM.
