More workers at grocery and drug stores operating in Metro Vancouver have recently tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Newly-announced cases affect employees of stores owned and operated by Loblaw and Sobeys in Richmond and Surrey.
Loblaw Companies Ltd, the parent company of the major retail chain Real Canadian Superstore provided updates to its COVID-19 employee case listings on Jan. 10, indicating there have been two new cases among staff at the following affected store:
- Real Canadian Superstore, 14650 104th Ave., Surrey: The last day the two team members each worked was on Dec. 27 and Jan. 1.
Additionally, Loblaw owns and operates the Shoppers Drug Mart chain. On Jan. 10 the company indicated a new test-positive coronavirus case affecting a team member at its Richmond Centre store location. That employee last worked as recently as Jan. 7.
Sobeys, Inc., parent company of familiar local grocery store chains Safeway, Thrifty Foods, and franchise operation FreshCo, also reports store employee COVID-19 test positive cases on its public web portal. Recent updates to its team member case count include the following:
- Safeway - 8671 No 1 Road Richmond: The last day the employee worked was Jan. 7.
- Safeway - 10355 King George Blvd, Surrey: The last day the employee worked was Jan. 4.
None of the listed stores are defined as "public exposure" locations by Vancouver Coastal Health or Fraser Health.
Vancouver Coastal Health, however, has issued a public exposure notice for Park Drive, a restaurant on Vancouver's Commercial Drive. It is the only active coronavirus public exposure in the VCH region, and it concerns patrons of the eatery on Dec. 31, 2020.
The other major grocery chain operating in B.C. that posts store employee COVID-19 test positive cases on a public website is T & T, which is owned by Loblaw. T & T has not had a test-positive case reported by any of its B.C. store employees in the last 14 days, according to the company's website.
Further, Quebec-based home improvement chain RONA, posts store employee COVID-19 cases to its Facebook page. The company has not announced a B.C. store case in several weeks.
