An employee has tested positive for COVID-19 at Costco’s Newmarket (East Gwillimbury) store at 18182 Yonge St., according to a staff memo obtained by NewmarketToday.
The notice sent by the store manager, Michael Moore, informed staff that the employee’s most recent day of work was June 19, 2020. The employee tested positive on June 23.
Costco Newmarket management said it has contacted York Region’s public health unit and are working cooperatively with any additional direction it provides.
Costco will communicate directly with co-workers known to have been in close contact with the individual, the memo states.
Current health guidelines state that people who have not been in close contact with a sick person are at low risk for infection, Moore said.
The company said it is committed to informing employees as soon as it becomes aware of these cases.
“We are undertaking additional cleaning and sanitation protocols and will continue with our daily enhanced cleaning,” Moore wrote to staff.
Moore urged staff to continue practising physical distancing and good hygiene, including washing hands thoroughly, covering a cough and sneeze, and staying home if sick.
“The use of paid sick/personal time, vacation time, and unpaid leave remain available for use for all employees concerned about being at work,” Moore said. “If you are feeling sick, please stay home, let us know, and contact your health-care provider. Monitor your health for symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of sense of odour and loss of sense of smell.”
At Costco’s Vaughan location on Colossus Drive, near Hwy. 7 and Weston Road, seven employees tested positive for the new coronavirus between April 2 and April 23.
At that time, York Region public health conducted a risk assessment on the work activities of the individuals and determined the risk to the public was low.
Public health also conducted three separate inspections within a week to reinforce infection prevention and control measures, such as physical distancing of staff and customers, and not working while sick.
When York Region’s public health conducts case and contact tracing activities, it may learn of a situation where a case or their contact(s) were working while symptomatic. When it becomes aware of these potential public exposures, a thorough risk assessment is conducted to determine whether or not the general public is at risk of developing COVID-19.
In the event that public health is unable to identify all close contacts, it may issue a public notification providing the public with information about the dates and times of the exposure and any actions to be taken by exposed individuals.
This may include the need for self-isolation and, in the event that COVID-19 symptoms develop, direction regarding the need for medical assessment and testing.
Where the risk assessment determines there is no elevated risk to the general public of contracting COVID-19 or when all close contacts can be identified through the interview process with the case, a public notice will not be posted.
