The Washington Monument closed to the public on Friday after Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, who recently visited the obelisk at the heart of the U.S. capital, tested positive for coronavirus.
A pair of workers entered quarantine following the visit from Bernhardt, and the 555-foot marble tower will remain shuttered until Monday, according to the Interior Department.
Bernhardt tested positive on Wednesday.
Nicholas Goodwin, an Interior Department spokesperson, said the quarantines created a temporary reduction in workforce at the monument.
“The health and safety of the public and our employees is our top priority,” Goodwin said in an email. “As we do in all circumstances when an employee attests to having COVID-19, we work with our public health officials to ensure all guidance from the CDC is followed, such as identifying close contacts.”
The monument reopened on Oct. 1 after a six-month pandemic closure. Since the reopening, no National Park Service workers at the monument have tested positive for COVID-19, Goodwin said.
