EOHU to re-educate retailers after food basic employee tests positive.

The employee did not have significant contact with the public and there is a medium risk to employees. Contact tracing is underway.

A lot of questions were raised after a press release, penned by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, informing the public that a Food Basic Employee had tested positive, went out on Saturday night.

Sunday afternoon, various media outlets started reporting that the patient was diagnosed with strep throat, was not informed that he was being tested for Covid-19 and therefore, was not told to self-Isolate. This is still being investigated.

The new case, contrary to rumours vastly circulating on social media, had nothing to do with the Tim Hortons case from earlier this week. “Has this case been related to anything in Tim Hortons? No.” said Dr. Paul Roumeliotis during a media briefing. “I can tell you the two common things about these two cases, both have no history of travel and no history of contact.” The cases are community acquired, so it is important to know that Covid-19 is in the Cornwall community.

The Health Unit will revisit all store and make sure the enforceable rules stipulated in the April 3rd Section 22 order are adhered to. “We certainly will re-educate.” said Roumeliotis. According to the Health Unit, it is an employer’s responsibility to make sure employees who show any irregular symptoms, including sore throat, sniffles, fever, stomach aches or diarrhea, go home and get tested. Enforcement officers will also be briefed and penalties may be issued to stores who do not comply.

Roumeliotis reiterated that most stores are doing a good job and that mainly, it is the shoppers who do not follow directions.

Overnight, a third party company was called in to do a thorough disinfection and sanitation of the premise, therefore the Food Basics on Brookdale store will remain open.