An embroidery business in Columbus is closing to quarantine after a worker came into contact with Bartholomew County Commissioner Tony London and his employees before he tested positive for COVID-19.
EYB Promotions, 3490 Commerce Drive, will be closed until at least the middle of next week after its owner, Sally Johnson, was notified Wednesday by an employee of the business London owns, Tony London Company, that at least two of its employees had tested positive for COVID-19, Johnson said.
Johnson said her employee was inside London’s business on Monday to drop off and pick up orders but was not experiencing any symptoms as of Thursday morning.
London told The Republic on Wednesday that he had tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday after feeling “rundown” and was quarantining with “very mild” symptoms.
London was shown sitting next to Bartholomew County Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz during a livestream of last week’s Bartholomew County Council meeting.
The two commissioners did not wear masks during much of the meeting and appeared to be seated closer than 6 feet from each other, the minimum distance that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends to reduce the chances of spreading COVID-19.
Kleinhenz also tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.
Johnson said she does business with London but the ordeal was “unfortunate” and “frustrating.”
“It’s an unfortunate thing,” said Johnson, who added that “this is not a personal attack on Tony.” “It just takes one event, you know, and how quickly that can affect multiple people.”
“That’s the part that frustrates me, how quickly this all unfolded just because they weren’t being careful,” Johnson said.
It is not clear if Tony London Company also is going to close for staff to quarantine. It is also unclear the last time London was inside the business. Phone calls to the company during business hours on Thursday went unanswered.
London, who was reached on his cell phone, declined to comment.
“I’m not talking about my business,” he said.
On Wednesday, Bartholomew County Commissioner Carl Lienhoop confirmed that the commissioner’s office was under quarantine based on the recommendation of the Bartholomew County Health Department after Kleinhenz and London tested positive.
Currently, it is unclear if any other county government departments are quarantining or how many county employees may have been exposed to the virus.
County officials said Thursday that the Bartholomew County Government Office Building is still open to the public by appointment only.
The Bartholomew County Health Department and Bartholomew County Health Office Dr. Brian Niedbalski declined to comment on the outbreak in the commissioner’s office.
“I can’t speak about specific cases, but everyone that tests positive is informed that they should isolate themselves according to guidelines and all close contacts are notified,” Niedbalski said.
The CDC says COVID-19 is mainly spread among “close contacts,” which it defines as people who spend at least 15 minutes within about 6 feet of each other during a 24-hour period.
COVID-19 is transmitted via respiratory droplets made when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
Kleinhenz and London sat next to each other without masks during the county council meeting for nearly one hour, the livestream shows.
“We just need to be keep being diligent and we need to start thinking not just of ourselves, but of other people and who we’re affecting by our actions,” Johnson said.
“We’re not through this yet, and it’s going to be a while before we’re through it, and people need to just, how do I say this? Buck up. Put the mask on. Be aware. If you’ve been exposed, then do the right thing.”
