Two Newmarket McDonald’s restaurants have reopened after being closed temporarily for deep cleaning and sanitization after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
Company spokesperson Ryma Boussoufa confirmed in an email that the restaurants at 17940 Yonge St., inside the Walmart Supercentre, and at 17760 Yonge St., at Dawson Manor Boulevard, reopened on Oct. 2.
A York Region public health investigation found that the individual acquired COVID-19 outside the workplace and there were no close contacts identified in the workplace, regional spokesperson Patrick Casey said.
“York Region public health is currently monitoring the workplace and has been in contact with management and the case to identify close contacts,” said Casey.
The employee, who reported the positive COVID test Oct. 1, worked their last shift at 17940 Yonge St. on Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and at 17760 Yonge St. on Sept. 28, from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Customers who visited the restaurants on Sept. 25 or 28 are asked to visit Ontario Public Health for more information and possible next steps here.A concerned resident, who did not wanted to be identifed to protect a family member who works at one of the McDonald’s locations, said in an email to NewmarketToday that they were only made aware of the COVID-positive case when they read the news story published on Oct. 1 at 9:21 p.m. here.
“It should be noted that employees were, in fact, not yet notified by the employer until they were informed by your article,” they said.
Boussoufa said in an Oct. 1 email that all crew members who may have been in close contact with the employee were asked to self-quarantine until further information is available.
The company did not respond to a request for comment about when it notified all potentially impacted employees who may have worked with the positive crew member.
