Date: 202201
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZTL.ARTCC, GA
Aircraft: Helicopter
Flight plan: VFR
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class E ZTL
Second aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Enroute
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Distraction; Workload
Second reporter function: Enroute
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure; Human Factors
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: GSP ATCT advised ZTL that they would be closing at XA:30 local for a COVID cleaning at that ZTL would be assuming the airspace. There was debate about which sector/sectors would assume the airspace based on the contingency plan but eventually it was decided that it would be divided up as is usually done on the midnight shift. When GSP ATCTC closed; The ARTS entry was not made to ensure that hand offs could be properly forwarded to the correct sectors and a through briefing of which VFR towers were still open was not given leaving areas of confusion about who were and were not open after the airspace was assumed. The automation issue of the ARTS entry caused each hand off to be verbally coordinated within the airspace as well as manually tracking up each hand off leading to increased and unneeded complexity and coordination. Staffing was also an issue as 2 CPC's and the only Supervisor on duty in the area were given annual leave during the shift leaving the area short when the GSP closure took place and a CIC was left to work the unusual situation. This resulted in the 3 sectors being combined with multiple frequencies as well as high complexity from working CLT inbounds and departures in addition to the GSP inbounds and departures at the same time. We are not an approach control and cannot provide the level of efficiency or safety of an approach control during the hours when the approach control is suppose to be open. We are limited by the rules we must adhere to and cannot provide the level of service that the users are accustomed to during this time of day. This was not a COVID emergency or an evacuation. The cleaning should have been conducted after the normal closing hours of GSP ATCT to minimize impact on the operation of ZTL as well as the users. There is no reason why this could not have been done after midnight when GSP ATCT is normally closed. If it was based on the cost of not holding someone at GSP over for an overtime shift; then safety was put behind cost by the agency; and the ATM of GSP ATCT should have volunteered to personally stay him or herself. There were a few unsafe situations and unneeded stress on ZTL brought on by this closure and cleaning that could have been delayed by a few hours. The supervisor on duty should also not have been allowed to leave early given the unusual and complex nature of the situation.


Second narrative: X night; GSP Approach closed at XA:30 Local time for COVID cleaning. I was told only that we would be taking our part of their airspace and there was only four aircraft expected in their airspace after that time. There was a lot more than four. No one appeared to know outside of area two since the OM didn't know they were closing and neither did any other areas affected. Then there was confusion on who took what part of the airspace since some of management thought we were operating on the emergency plan. Lack of staffing was also an issue since so many people were allowed to go home on leave including the supervisor. Also GYH tower was still open but we don't have any way of contacting the GYH tower cause more issues. A helicopter was operating over the OXABY intersection for the ILS to runway four at GSP which had the GSP facility had been open the helicopter might have been in contact with them but since the pilot probably didn't know they were closed; he was operating at the initial approach fix just 200 ft beneath all the aircraft approaching the airport for which Aircraft Y had an alert with.  Lack of coordination and notification brought about a seriously unsafe ATC environment.Clean the GSP facility after the busy period of traffic so that the flying public isn't put at risk for the sake of saving someone in the FAA management from having to stay late on a shift. This isn't the first time this has happened and should never happen again if safety is a concern.


Synopsis: Atlanta Center Controllers reported issues relating to COVID cleaning at the facility and resulting impact on airspace operations.