The Walmart in Chatham is the latest local big box store to have an employee test positive for COVID-19.
Walmart Manager of Corporate Affairs Felicia Fefer told Blackburn News the worker from the store at 881 St. Clair Street recently tested positive for the virus and last worked on January 11.
"We’re keeping the associate in our thoughts and wish them a speedy recovery," Fefer said. "We are in contact with local public health."
An outbreak continues at the Walmart store on McNaughton Avenue in Wallaceburg after four workers recently tested positive for COVID-19.
Walmart said safety continues to be a top priority and will continue to take measures to support the well-being of customers and associates, including:
- Mandatory masks for customers and associates.
- Limiting the number of customers shopping in the store at one time.
- Floor markings and one-way aisles to create physical distancing.
- Increased cleaning throughout the store.
- Wellness checks that include a temperature check for all associates at the start of each shift.
- Cleaning shopping carts.
- Encouraging regular handwashing.
- Regular cleaning of work areas (including checkouts).
- Installed plexi-glass dividers at registers, customer service desks and in our pharmacies.
The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit reported on Tuesday morning that the outbreak at Riverview Gardens was declared over on Monday, but the outbreak at Fairfield Park nursing home in Wallaceburg continues. That outbreak was declared January 10, 2021 after an employee tested positive for the virus.
"We are so excited to announce that our home is out of COVID-19 outbreak and we have no active COVID-19 cases," said Riverview Gardens on social media. "We are so proud of our staff and essential visitors for their tiresome diligence of wearing proper PPE, following social distancing recommendations and proper hand hygiene. Due to the provincial lockdown, we are still only open to approved caregivers and essential visitors."
The total number of local outbreaks is down to 12 - nine in workplaces, one institutional, and two in congregate living. Purple Pansy flower shop in downtown Chatham has announced it has reopened for curbside pick-up and porch deliveries after an employee tested positive for the virus but New Vision Optical in Wallaceburg has announced it has temporarily closed because one of the owners has tested positive for COVID-19.
Two COVID-19 patients in the hospital have also been released to bring the total number of people hospitalized down to five. The number of active cases has also dropped by one to 103 after 11 new cases and 12 resolved cases. The number of local people killed by COVID-19 remains at five. Most of the active cases (63) are close contacts of other cases, 11 are still under investigation to determine how they were exposed, and it's unknown how 13 people were exposed to the virus.