Worker at Upper James Fortinos tests positive for COVID-19

A worker at a Fortinos grocery store on the Hamilton Mountain has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the store's parent company.

Loblaws was notified Wednesday that a staff member at the Fortinos located at 1550 Upper James St. had tested positive on a presumptive test for COVID-19," according to a listing on their COVID-19 case database.

The last day the employee worked was Oct. 24.

According to Loblaws, when a worker tests positive they work closely with public health and follow their guidance to ensure proper notification of close contacts and required cleaning and sanitization in our stores."

It's unclear how many staff members were affected by the cases or if any were recommended to self-isolate as a precaution. The database also does not specify which part of the store the employee worked in.

The new case follows a worker at the Fortinos grocery store at 65 Mall Rd. testing positive for the virus on Oct. 25. The employee was last in the store on Oct. 24.

There have also been cases at two east Hamilton Shoppers Drug Mart stores this month.

An employee at the Centre on Barton location tested positive on Monday. Their last day of work was Oct. 23. Meanwhile, a staff member at the Eastgate Square location tested positive on Oct. 24. Their last day of work was Oct. 19.

Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com