As a precautionary measure to protect the safety of customers and employees, all Grant PUD facilities will now be closed to public access, a press release from the utility announced late Tuesday, and as many employees as possible will be told to stay home.

The PUD learned that one of its contracted employees has had direct and prolonged exposure to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19 and recently came into direct contact with several of Grant PUD’s employees.

“Grant PUD believes that this is a prudent precautionary measure to protect public and employee safety and avoid possible power and fiber service interruptions,” the release said.

Only “mission-critical” personnel in operating Grant PUD’s generating and power systems, as well as the fiber network, will report to work. All other employees, contractors and vendors are ordered not to report to their work locations until further notice.

Mission-critical employees will be provided whatever protections are feasible to prevent becoming infected. Grant PUD employees who are not reporting to work will either be given work duties from their homes or placed on paid administrative leave.

More details for customers will be provided in the next few days.

“At this time, all of Grant PUD’s resources are focused on ensuring that we are doing everything we can to protect the health of our customers and employees,” the release said. “When we have implemented that first step, we will then focus on how we can best provide account service to our customers.”