A popular Asian grocery store at Coquitlam Centre has reported a fourth case of COVID-19 among its staff in just over a week, prompting the store to shut its doors while it sanitizes.
The exposure notification, released Dec. 1, indicates the employee at the Coquitlam Centre T&T Supermarket who tested positive for the virus last worked Nov. 21. Since then, that person has remained in quarantine, according to a notification on the store’s website.
“The virus situation at the Coquitlam store is unsettling, so we are determined to stamp it out,” said T&T CEO Tina Lee in a written statement. “It’s time for our Coquitlam store staff to take a break, and for the company to take even stronger measures.”
The store shut its doors Wednesday, Dec. 2, and will remain closed until Saturday, Dec. 5, while it undergoes a “deep sanitization.”
“This allows time for all staff to get tested, and for any potential infectious virus particles on surfaces to dissipate,” added Lee.
The store will continue to offer online shopping, which is delivered by the next day to your doorstep. Coquitlam residents will be offered “free express delivery” until Sunday, Dec. 13.
Last month, three workers at the T&T Supermarket at Coquitlam Centre tested positive for the coronavirus over several days, leading to exposure notices posted on Nov. 20, 21 and 23, according to the grocer.
The employees last worked Nov. 17, 13 and 19, respectively, according to the exposure notice.
A backroom worker at the grocer’s Metrotown location was also flagged for a positive COVID-19 test on Nov. 30, and had last worked at the store on Nov. 26.
According to the company, the store’s COVID-19 test positivity rate was at 0.31% on Dec. 2. By comparison, as of Monday, Dec. 1, the entire region of Fraser Health — which includes the Tri-Cities — had a positivity rate of 8.4%.
