AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas Department of State Health Services confirms three positive COVID-19 cases in the state lab. 

“We look at where the COVID positive person’s work space is and where their job duties take them to identify potential close contacts and those employees are notified,” explained Lara Anton, press officer with DSHS. 

Anton said they also work with staff that fall under any of the risk categories to help them understand the actions they need to take. 

KXAN investigators started asking questions after getting a tip about concerns that staff were not getting information. 

“In general, the lab follows social distancing recommendations as well as recommendations to wear face coverings if the employee’s health permits,” Anton explained. 

According to the DSHS website, the lab has been doing COVID-19 testing since April. Staff also test more than one million samples for infectious and food-borne diseases along with biological and chemical compounds every year.