THUNDER BAY – Walmart is the latest business to confirm it’s been impacted by the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in Thunder Bay.
Nine employees across all three local Walmart locations have recently tested positive for COVID-19, the company confirmed Monday in response to an inquiry from Tbnewswatch.
Six employees recently tested positive at the Memorial Avenue location, with their last dates worked Feb. 21, 23, 25, and March 2 and 3.
Two employees tested positive at the Arthur Street store, with their last dates worked Feb. 21 and 23.
At the County Fair Plaza store on Dawson Road, one employee tested positive, who last worked Feb. 23.
An undisclosed number of other employees who had prolonged close contact with those individuals are also in isolation “out of an abundance of caution,” the company said in a statement.
Walmart did not immediately indicate whether any of the cases were believed to have been acquired in the store, or the level of risk to the public.
The company had informed the Thunder Bay Public Health Unit of the cases, it said, though it did not post a public notice.
“We respond transparently to requests received about the number of recent confirmed cases in stores, distribution centres or offices from customers or media,” the company stated.
According to its website, the health unit alerts the public “if there is a high risk COVID-19 exposure in a location involving the general public and TBDHU is unable to contact all individuals who may have been exposed.”
The agency last issued an advisory of COVID-19 exposure at a Walmart on Jan. 14.
“We will not comment on the specifics of investigations at workplaces,” a health unit spokesperson said in response to questions from Tbnewswatch. “We continue to do a thorough public health investigation into all positive cases received.”
Walmart is just the latest business to be impacted by surging local cases, with 462 active in the Thunder Bay District as of Monday – easily the highest per capita rate of any health unit in the province.
The Real Canadian Superstore and Thai Kitchen restaurant also recently confirmed cases among staff.
