Several major companies with retail locations in Metro Vancouver are reporting or confirming employees have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
On Monday, Nov. 9, Sobeys Inc added a staff member test positive case for their Safeway store at 1611 Davie St in Vancouver. The employee tested positive on Nov. 6, and had last worked a shift on Nov. 1.
"We will always do everything we can to support our teammates and ensure their safety. Where required, we will communicate with customers who have shopped in the impacted location, with store signage, outlining our steps to manage the situation," assures the company on their COVID-19 case tracker portal.
While on Monday Loblaw Companies Ltd. added a new slate of B.C. store staff COVID cases affecting a Your Independent Grocer in Vancouver and a Superstore in Delta, on Tuesday the company amended their listing to add a second infected team member in Delta (Real Canadian Superstore, 8195 120th St) who last worked Nov. 1.
Additionally, Loblaw announced a test-positive staff case at the Shoppers Drug Mart at 3025 Lougheed Hwy, Coquitlam. The last day the team member worked at this particular store was on Oct. 29, according to the parent company.
More retail stores with COVID cases among staff
Two employees at Richmond’s Home Depot have been tested positive for COVID-19.
Alyssa Haw, spokesperson for Home Depot Canada, confirmed that two employees are in quarantine after testing positive for the virus and have not been at work since Oct. 25.
“Most of all, we care about supporting our associates through this, and the ongoing health and safety of our customers and associates,” said Haw.
“We also have paid leave and time-off policies in place to protect associates who are directly or indirectly impacted by COVID-19.”
Ikea in Coquitlam closed Monday while a contractor deep cleaned the store after a worker tested positive with COVID-19.
There is no public exposure notice on Fraser Health's website, however, suggesting that contact tracing is already in place to isolate the worker and their contacts.
Meanwhile, shoppers will have to wait until the store finishes with cleaning by a third-party, and a date for re-opening has yet to be revealed.
Not every company is sharing employee cases with public
A worker at the Costco in Port Coquitlam has tested positive for COVID-19, according to an internal memo seen by the Tri-City News.
According to the memo, the employee last worked Oct. 25. The memo adds that the company had contacted health officials and was undertaking additional sanitation and cleaning protocols.
But, in conversations with staff, concerns have been raised over the level of transparency when cases of COVID-19 have been isolated among workers.
“Having COVID is not a sin. Why keep it so confidential? We just want people around us and the shoppers to be aware if they have symptoms,” said one worker, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of workplace repercussions.
Costco Canada has not responded to multiple requests for comment.
The anonymous employee said management refused to disclose which department the person with COVID-19 belonged to, though employees quickly ascertained who was self-isolating.
In a conversation with employees, management told staff for the first time this was the third case of COVID-19 at the branch since March, according to the employee.
“The company is really trying this time,” said the worker, noting there’s frustration among those who work in the same department with the infected employee and who regularly share computers and phones.
“But we find it weird, why are none of us contacted?”
“I would have self-isolated, I wouldn’t have seen friends and family. They should be transparent. What about the people who shop at Costco?”
With files from Stefan Labbé and Diane Strandberg at Tri-City News and Valerie Leung at Richmond News
