A Vaughan Longo’s branch closed for 14 days after 7 staff tested positive for COVID-19

Public Health is also urging people who ‘tested positive and follow up with persons who may have been exposed’

Yorkregion.com
April 14, 2020
Dina Al-Shibeeb

York Region Public Health said on April 10 that Longo’s has taken a “decisive step” to close the Weston Road store in Vaughan for 14 days and it would reopen 10 days after, on Friday, April 24.

The decision was made after York Region was “made aware” on April 5 of “two Longo’s locations in the City of Vaughan where staff tested positive for COVID-19.”

It said there were “seven staff (who tested positive for COVID-19) at the 9200 Weston Road location, and one staff at the 2810 Major Mackenzie Dr. location.” The Longo’s location at 2810 Major Mackenzie Dr. location, meanwhile, is not impacted by this closure.

Public Health has also followed up with the positive cases associated with the Weston Road location and has identified anyone they may have come into contact with.

“In unique cases like this where community exposure happens, York Region Public Health actively engages contact tracing of affected individuals.”

It continued, “This involves individual interviews with the people who tested positive and follow up with persons who may have been exposed. If York Region Public Health determines an individual may have been exposed to a potential health risk they will contact that individual by phone and inform them of signs and symptoms to look out for and will recommend next steps.”

‘Enhanced cleaning, disinfecting’

Public Health dubbed the situation as “unique,” adding how it “appreciates Longo’s ongoing commitment to keeping their customers and the community safe.”

“Longo’s continues to take all necessary precautions at their other locations, including enhanced cleaning and disinfecting, encouraging physical distancing of staff and patrons and limiting the number of shoppers to 50 people at a time,” Public Health said.

It also said that Longo’s throughout the investigation “continues to be extremely co-operative and have done tremendous work to adjust to a fluid and rapidly-changing new reality.”

Patrick Casey, Director, Corporate Communications at the municipality of York told Yorkregion.com that the company “is taking the additional step of asking all staff who have worked in the store since March 28 to stay at home and self-monitor their health for the next 14 days.”