THUNDER BAY – Customers who visited two local thrift stores over the past week may have been exposed to COVID-19, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit is warning.
The health unit warned of “low risk exposure” during several periods over the past week at two stores operated by Adult & Teen Challenge of Central Canada, after individuals involved with the organization tested positive over the weekend.
That also resulted in residents at the organization’s two long-term addiction recovery centres being directed to isolate.
Customers could have been exposed to the novel coronavirus at the Super Thrift Store on Johnson Avenue on Nov. 3 between 2:30 and 6 p.m., and Nov. 4 to 6 anytime between 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Customers could have been exposed to the virus at the Super Thrift Christmas Store on North Cumberland Street on Nov. 5 between noon and 6 p.m.
The health unit advised anyone who had entered the stores during those times to monitor for symptoms, despite its low assessment of transmission risk.
“Overall the risk of someone being infected would be low, however, we are asking individuals who were in these locations during these times to monitor themselves carefully for symptoms, immediately self-isolate if they have even one symptom and to call the TBDHU at (807) 625-5900,” the health unit said in a statement issued Monday afternoon.
The warning comes as public health authorities confront a recent spike in cases, with 15 new cases reported in the Thunder Bay area just since Friday.
Medical officer of health Dr. Janet DeMille said Monday that the health unit has so far been able to trace the source of transmission for all of those cases, and there was no evidence of community spread.
