Numerous workers at major grocery and drugstore chains operating across British Columbia have tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) over the past few days, including several in Metro Vancouver.
Stores with affected employees are located throughout the Lower Mainland in Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions, including in Vancouver, Coquitlam, Delta, and New Westminster.
Sobeys, Inc, the parent company of Safeway and Thrifty Foods has indicated on its case tracker that employees working at three of its Metro Vancouver stores have tested positive for the virus. The affected stores are as follows:
- Safeway, 3410 Kingsway Street, Vancouver: The last day the employee worked was Feb. 28
- Safeway, 8860 – 152 Street, Surrey: The last day the employee worked was Feb. 27
- Thrifty Foods, 1207 – 56th Street, Delta (Tsawwassen): The last day the employee worked was Feb. 24
Previously, Sobeys reported on March 3 an infected employee at its Safeway located at 780 – 2601 Westview Drive in North Vancouver. The last day the infected employee worked at that store was on Feb. 26.
Loblaw Companies Ltd, the parent company of Real Canadian Superstore, Shoppers Drug Mart, and other local chains, provided updates to its COVID-19 employee case listings on March 5, indicating cases at the following store locations in Metro Vancouver:
- Real Canadian Superstore, 8195 - 120th Street, Delta: The last day each of the two team members worked was on Feb. 23 and Feb. 27
- Real Canadian Superstore, 3000 Lougheed Hwy., Coquitlam: The last day the team member worked was on Feb. 24
- Shoppers Drug Mart, 22441 Dewdney Trunk Rd, Maple Ridge: The last day the team member worked was on Feb. 28
- Davie Street Your Independent Grocer, 1255 Davie St. Vancouver: The last day the team member worked was on March 1
- Shoppers Drug Mart, 610 6th St, Unit 141, New Westminster: The last day the team member worked was on March 2
Earlier this week, Loblaw reported new confirmed store worker cases at Real Canadian Superstore locations in Duncan, Abbotsford, Kamloops, Surrey, and Cranbrook, as well as a team member case from the Nielsen's Your Independent Grocer in Surrey.
Active COVID-19 infections in B.C. rise to seven-week high
The number of British Columbians actively fighting COVID-19 infections rose by 89 from Wednesday to Thursday, to 4,743 – the highest number since January 13, more than seven weeks ago. This came in part because another 564 B.C. residents were diagnosed in the past day as having the virus that has spawned the global pandemic.
Health officials are closely monitoring another 8,659 people for symptoms because they have had known exposure to individuals identified as carrying the virus. That is the highest number since January 8, almost eight weeks ago.
With files from Glen Korstrom/Glacier Media
