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New round of Lower Mainland grocery stores hit by COVID-19 cases

More stores are grappling with staff cases
woman-face-mask-shopping
A woman wears a non-medical face mask while grocery shopping. Photo: iStock/Getty Images

More COVID-19 cases have been discovered at Metro Vancouver grocery stores, according to the latest online postings by companies – including one at a Your Independent Grocer.

Loblaw Companies Ltd. indicated Jan. 27 that five team members at three B.C. stores have confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). 

While two of those stores are located in B.C.'s Interior Health authority region - a Shoppers Drug Mart in Vernon and a Real Canadian Superstore in Pentiction - the following affected store is located in Vancouver Coastal Health: Davie Street Your Independent Grocer, 1255 Davie St., Vancouver. The last day the team member worked was on Jan. 23.

The T&T outlet on Marine Drive in Vancouver has also reported new positive tests involving  part-time workers. The last day they worked at the store was on Jan. 17 and 21.

A Real Canadian Superstore on 120 Street in Delta has also had a worker test positive for coronavirus, last working on Jan. 13.

Two Real Canadian Superstores in Coquitlam have isolated workers who tested positive for COVID-19, according to a recent exposure alert issued by the chain’s parent company, Loblaw Companies Ltd.

Two exposures were reported at the Superstore at 1301 Lougheed Hwy. in Coquitlam (the employees last worked on Jan. 16 and 17) and the other is at the Superstore at 3000 Lougheed Highway (the employee last worked on Jan. 6).

Sobeys has reported on Jan. 16 a staff member from its Kensington Safeway in Burnaby testing positive.

January has seen a resurgence in public exposure warnings issued by the two health authorities that cover Metro Vancouver.

Vancouver Coastal Health, which includes Vancouver, Richmond, the North Shore, and the Sea-to-Sky, publishes public exposure warnings for one month; currently, the health authority has eight venues listed. The most recent COVID-19 public exposures have been at a trio of establishments in Whistler, while the previous five are all located in Vancouver: Hail Mary'sDenny'sNook, and Park Drive restaurants and Rumble Boxing.

Currently, Fraser Health, which includes Burnaby, Surrey, and the Fraser Valley, has one active coronavirus public exposure warning which covers multiple weekly scheduled events at a Surrey church.

  • With files from Lindsay William-Ross, Vancouver Is Awesome