Loblaws closes west-end store after 'several team members' test positive for COVID-19

Loblaws Inc. says one of its stores in Toronto's west end will be closed as of Monday after "several team members" tested positive for COVID-19.

In an "important update" to customers on Saturday, the company said the store, 650 Dupont St., underwent a thorough cleaning overnight before it reopened as usual on Saturday morning.

On Sunday, customers received an email informing them that the company "made the decision to temporarily close" the location. 

Beginning on Monday, the location will become a dedicated PC Express store, providing only pickup orders, according to the email. The store's pharmacy will also remain open for patients, and prescriptions can be picked up or delivered during regular pharmacy hours.

The company said it has contacted Toronto Public Health to investigate the recent shifts and direct contacts of the staff members who tested positive.

The tests of the Dupont and Christie store employees have not yet been confirmed, it added.

It has also asked "potentially exposed" staff members to stay at home and go into self-isolation.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we're notifying customers who recently transacted at this store," the company added.

Loblaws has not responded to a request for comment from CBC Toronto.

In the email to customers, it added: "We understand that you may have questions and want to assure you that we take your safety, and the safety of our team, very seriously.

"We will work with the local public health team on any further directions and encourage you to reach out to them if you need more information."

Loblaws informed customers in emails on  April 17 and 29 and May 2 respectively of three other probable cases involving staff members.

Toronto Public Health says community spread ongoing

On Saturday, Toronto Public Health would not confirm that its officials are in contact with the store because it said it doesn't comment on specific locations. It also would not say whether this specific situation constitutes an outbreak.

And it would not confirm how many probable cases have been reported at this store out of privacy considerations.

Dr. Vinita Dubey, the city's associate medical officer of health, said in an email on Saturday that TPH tries to pinpoint when an infection started when it investigates outbreaks.

"The case investigation goes back 14 days from when the person started showing symptoms of COVID-19 to see if we can determine where they might have contracted the infection. We also go back 48 hours from when the symptoms started to determine who the person was in close contact with, including possible colleagues at work, to determine if close contacts need to self-isolate for 14 days," she said.

"We do this for all cases. When there is evidence that there is ongoing spread of COVID-19 in a workplace, then an outbreak may be declared to control the spread."

Dubey said TPH doesn't investigate cases of people who may work in Toronto but who live outside the city. The store has not indicated whether the infected employees are from Toronto or not.

People who live outside Toronto would be investigated by the public health unit where they live, she added.

Public health recommends food store staff wear masks

Toronto public health officials, however, do work with workplaces and institutions to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19, she added, noting that employees could have gotten the virus from a location other than the store.

She said TPH recommends that food stores, including grocery stores, supermarkets and pharmacies, continue to follow any routine infection prevention and control policies and procedures set out by their company or organization.

 These procedures includes regular cleaning and disinfecting frequently-touched objects and surfaces.

"We know that COVID-19 continues to circulate in Toronto with community spread ongoing. This means that the public should be aware that COVID-19 may be circulating in many different locations," she said.

"COVID-19 is most commonly spread from person-to-person through close, prolonged contact with an infected person's respiratory droplets. This is why it is so important for everyone to practice physical distancing, keep six feet away from others, wash our hands often, and stay home if we are sick. When physical distancing is difficult to maintain, such as in a retail setting, wearing a cloth mask or face covering can prevent your germs from infecting others," she added. 

"Toronto Public Health has strongly recommended that customers and staff of retail settings wear a cloth mask or face covering in these situations. Implementing comprehensive public health measures is the only way we will reduce the spread of this virus in our community so that we can protect our essential workers, and minimize the loss of life."