Longo's grocery store chain has announced on its web site that a staff member at its Guelph location has tested positive for COVID-19.
The grocery store chain posted the information on Sunday, saying the team member's last shift at the Clair Road store was on March 24.
The store remains open for business.
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health has an online tool that tracks and lists individual cases in Public Health's coverage area, but that list hasn't been updated since last Thursday. It currently lists seven cases in Public Health's catchment area and that does not include the four Guelph General Hospital empoloyees who have tested positive because they do not reside in the area.
"As a family business, the wellbeing of our Team Members and our Guests is our number one priority. Today, we received confirmation that one of our Team Members at our Guelph location, has tested positive for COVID-19," read the post from Longo's president and CEO Anthony Longo.
The affected team member’s last shift was on March 24th. We want to assure you that our stores and Team Members have been operating under heightened preventative measures and in accordance with recommendations from public health to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
"At this time, we are taking immediate actions in the best interests of our Team Members and Guests while ensuring that the Team Member who tested positive has the support they need for a healthy recovery.
The chain says it is doing additional deep cleaning of the store that is "above and beyond our already elevated sanitation and cleaning protocols."
"We will continue to partner with public health to identify and support any other Team Members who may need to self-isolate and immediately instruct them to stay home. These Team Members will continue to be compensated during this time."
Longo's says it is working with Public Health to investigate other employees who worked with the one who came down with the virus.
"To keep our stores safe, we will work in accordance with public health to identify and support any Team Member who should self-isolate. They are instructed to stay home and we will pay them in full. We continue to partner with public health to do everything possible to limit the risk to Team Members and Guests."
The notice says that Public Health has assured Longos that the risk of grocery shopping remains low.
Anyone who shopped at the store and is concerned about their health should contact their family doctor or visit the Ontario Ministry of Health’s novel-coronavirus website for more information.
Longos said the store will remain open as they continue to work with Public Health.
"As a family business, there is nothing we care more about than the wellbeing of our Team Members and Guests. We are making our decisions under the guidance of public health and will continue to act immediately on their direction and protocols. This includes not hesitating to close a store when their direction suggests that as the best course of action."
