MOUNTAIN VIEW — Employees at the NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Federal Air Field have been asked to stay away from their offices indefinitely after an employee tested positive for coronavirus, officials said.

The research center was operating Monday morning, but employees were told to work from home.

“Out of an abundance of caution, Ames will temporarily go to a mandatory telework status until further notice,” spokesman Darryl E. Walter said in a statement. “Limiting personnel at the center will allow Ames medical personnel and public health officials to determine potential contacts and assess areas that may require additional cleaning and mitigate potential exposure to center personnel.”

The employee tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, officials said.

“The safety of our employees is our top priority,” Waller said. “Any decisions we have made, or will make, is with the safety of our workforce in mind.”

Ames is a NASA leader in aeronautics development and exploration technology and has been in existence since 1939. It employees thousands of federal workers.