Several more staff members at major grocery and drugstore chains operating in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Loblaw Companies Ltd, the parent company of retailers Shoppers Drug Mart and Real Canadian Superstore provided updates to its COVID-19 employee case listings on Nov. 19.
The following stores are newly affected:
- Real Canadian Superstore, 8195 Scott Rd, Delta: The last day the two infected team members worked were on Nov. 6 and Nov.11, respectively.
- Shoppers Drug Mart, 4326 Dunbar Street, Vancouver: The last day the team member worked was on Nov. 12.
- Shoppers Drug Mart, 20151 Fraser Hwy, Langley: The last day the team member worked was on Nov. 13.
Loblaw says they share updates about test-positive COVID cases in their stores in order to maintain transparency. Its last test-positive team member case in B.C. was reported on Nov. 17.
Sobeys, Inc, the parent company of grocery stores Safeway, Thrifty's, and FreshCo, is another major retailer operating in British Columbia that uses a public online tracker to post employee coronavirus test-positive cases.
On Nov. 18, Sobeys, Inc indicated an employee at one of their franchise stores was newly-confirmed as being infected. The following store is affected:
- FreshCo, 7450 120 Street, Surrey: The last day the employee worked was November 14.
"Out of respect for our teammates and their confidentiality, we will never release any personal information about our people. We will always do everything we can to support our teammates and ensure their safety," says Sobeys.
None of the above-mentioned stores are considered public exposure sites by Vancouver Coastal Health or Fraser Health.
Stores must have COVID-19 safety plans available for viewing
In B.C., a public health order issued this spring mandates having COVID-19 safety plans available for viewing by customers.
The May 14 order says businesses must “post a copy of your COVID-19 Safety Plan on your website, if you have one, and at your workplace so that it is readily available for review by workers, other persons who may attend at the workplace to provide services and members of the public.”
However, a Glacier Media investigation found that several stores in Vancouver and Burnaby were unable to produce those documents when requested. Some stores had their plan posted visibly, whereas others were able to hand over a physical copy when asked.
Read more about the findings of the investigation HERE.
With files from Jeremy Hainsworth
