Narrative:

I came on duty at xa:00 local. I was assigned the controller in charge (controller in charge) position because the day supervisor was at 10 hours and needed to be relieved. At the time; I observed sector xx and sector xy both alerted red and over their map values. At this time we were providing spacing to ZZZ and ZZZ1 airports. We were also spacing jxxx and vxxx route spacing going to the north. Those are our main 2 airways going to the north. The outgoing supervisor asked the stmc (supervisor traffic management coordinator) for verification that it was for all aircraft. It was noted that we needed help from ZZZ1 ARTCC with this and the stmc agreed. Along with all of this; we were rerouting ZZZ2; ZZZ3; and ZZZ4 traffic. All aircraft inbound to our airspace needed to be rerouted. Again; the stmc was made aware that we needed help with this. In addition to all of this; we were required to tuck aircraft going to ZZZ5; ZZZ3; ZZZ6; ZZZ7; ZZZ8; ZZZ9; ZZZ10; ZZZ11; ZZZ12; ZZZ13; ZZZ4; ZZZ14; ZZZ15; ZZZ16; and ZZZ17. Again; we were getting no help with this from adjacent sectors and facilities. Again; the stmc was made aware of this and agreed to help. I advised surrounding area supervisors that we needed help and told them what we needed. The supervisors either didn't convey the information or the controllers were not complying; but no one around us was helping with these routes or altitude restrictions. I also advised the stmc that we needed this slowed down as soon as possible because the amount of work placed on us was unacceptable. While this was all going on; both sectors yy and xx were still alerted red and over their guideline numbers. The controller at sector xx shut off ZZZ1 ARTCC zzzzz sector due to airspace saturation. The amount of work he had to do with the amount of airplanes was overwhelming and he made the right decision. At this point; I had a cpc (certified professional controller) d-side along with another controller to get the radar controller out since he was up for break and the OM all standing over the sector. Take note that we are supposed to be practicing social distancing due to the covid-19 outbreak in which ZZZ ARTCC management is completely disregarding I had 4 people within 4 feet of one another looking at an overloaded sector. Unacceptable! I pulled the OM (operations manager) aside and expressed my concern with this completely unsafe situation our area was placed in and manager agreed. Again; I told the OM that this needs to stop and be slowed down. For our area to be placed under this much extra work along with overloading sectors is completely unacceptable and reckless. Completely unsafe!how about management and tmu (traffic management unit) need to abide by the sector guideline numbers and stop overloading sectors. The more restrictions placed on a sector; the lower the guideline number needs to be. You can't overload sectors along with a page full of restrictions and expect it to remain safe. The fact that we had this many restrictions placed upon us with zero help is just reckless.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Center Controller In Charge reported an unacceptable workload was placed on the facility which resulted in controllers being unable to practice social distancing at the facility.

Narrative: I came on duty at XA:00 local. I was assigned the CIC (Controller In Charge) position because the day Supervisor was at 10 hours and needed to be relieved. At the time; I observed sector XX and sector XY both alerted red and over their map values. At this time we were providing spacing to ZZZ and ZZZ1 airports. We were also spacing JXXX and VXXX route spacing going to the north. Those are our main 2 airways going to the north. The outgoing Supervisor asked the STMC (Supervisor Traffic Management Coordinator) for verification that it was for all aircraft. It was noted that we needed help from ZZZ1 ARTCC with this and the STMC agreed. Along with all of this; we were rerouting ZZZ2; ZZZ3; and ZZZ4 traffic. All aircraft inbound to our airspace needed to be rerouted. Again; the STMC was made aware that we needed help with this. In addition to all of this; we were required to tuck aircraft going to ZZZ5; ZZZ3; ZZZ6; ZZZ7; ZZZ8; ZZZ9; ZZZ10; ZZZ11; ZZZ12; ZZZ13; ZZZ4; ZZZ14; ZZZ15; ZZZ16; and ZZZ17. Again; we were getting no help with this from adjacent sectors and facilities. AGAIN; the STMC was made aware of this and agreed to help. I advised surrounding area supervisors that we needed help and told them what we needed. The supervisors either didn't convey the information or the controllers were not complying; but no one around us was helping with these routes or altitude restrictions. I also advised the STMC that we needed this slowed down ASAP because the amount of work placed on us was unacceptable. While this was all going on; both sectors YY and XX were still alerted red and over their guideline numbers. The Controller at sector XX shut off ZZZ1 ARTCC ZZZZZ sector due to airspace saturation. The amount of work he had to do with the amount of airplanes was overwhelming and he made the right decision. At this point; I had a CPC (Certified Professional Controller) d-side along with another Controller to get the radar Controller out since he was up for break and the OM all standing over the sector. Take note that we are supposed to be practicing social distancing due to the COVID-19 outbreak in which ZZZ ARTCC management is completely disregarding I had 4 people within 4 feet of one another looking at an overloaded sector. UNACCEPTABLE! I pulled the OM (Operations Manager) aside and expressed my concern with this completely unsafe situation our area was placed in and manager agreed. Again; I told the OM that this needs to stop and be slowed down. For our area to be placed under this much extra work along with overloading sectors is completely unacceptable and reckless. Completely unsafe!How about Management and TMU (Traffic Management Unit) need to abide by the sector guideline numbers and stop overloading sectors. The more restrictions placed on a sector; the lower the guideline number needs to be. You can't overload sectors along with a page full of restrictions and expect it to remain safe. The fact that we had this many restrictions placed upon us with ZERO help is just reckless.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.