COVID-19 in Hamilton: Cases found at Lowe’s, Shoppers Drug Mart, Fortinos and McMaster University
Cases of COVID-19 have been found at an east-end Lowe's, a Dundas Shoppers Drug Mart and McMaster University.
Three workers at the Lowe's at 1945 Barton St. E. have recently tested positive for COVID-19, according to the company's online case tracker.
According to the company, they were made aware of the cases on Jan. 20 and Jan. 22. The workers' last days were Jan. 16, Jan. 18 and Jan. 20.
When an employee tests positive, the store undergoes extensive cleaning" and staff members identified as close contacts are put on preventive paid quarantine at home," stated Lowe's on its website.
In a tweet Monday, Hamilton police said an officer working out of the East End station had tested positive for the virus.
The officer was last at work Jan. 17 and all close contacts" have been notified.
In a release Monday, McMaster said they had been notified of a case involving a staff member.
According to the university, the staff member tested positive on Sunday and was last on campus Jan. 20 in the David Braley Health Sciences Centre.
All impacted areas" have been thoroughly" cleaned and Hamilton public health is managing contact tracing.
When a person notifies McMaster they are awaiting test results and spent time on campus, all areas the person visited within the last 72 hours are cleaned. If the test comes back positive, the university does additional cleaning.
According to McMaster, they notify the university community any time they are informed" of a case involving an individual who has spent any time on campus even if just for a few minutes."
Another worker at the Mall Road Fortinos has also tested positive for COVID-19, according to the store's parent company.
Loblaw was notified Monday that a second employee at the grocery store at 65 Mall Rd. on the Hamilton Mountain had tested positive on a presumptive test for COVID-19," according to a listing on their online case tracker.
The staff member's last shift was Jan. 22, while the other infected worker was last in the store on Jan. 18.
Meanwhile, two employees at separate Shoppers Drug Marts in the city have tested positive for COVID-19.
Loblaw was notified Saturday that a worker at the Centre on Barton location at 1183 Barton St. E. had caught the virus. Their last shift was on Jan. 18.
The company was then notified Sunday that an employee at the University Plaza location at 101 Osler Dr. in Dundas had also tested positive. Their last day was on Jan. 21.
Cases in Grimsby
A handful of workers at two Shoppers Drug Mart locations in Grimsby have tested positive for COVID-19.
The company was notified Monday that three workers at the Governors and Main location at 150 Main St. E. had tested positive. Their last shifts were on Jan. 17, Jan. 19 and Jan. 20.
On Sunday, an employee at the Grimsby Square Plaza location at 42 St. Andrews Ave. had also tested positive, according to Loblaw. Their last shift was on Jan. 22.
According to Loblaw, 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 if any other staff members were affected by the cases or if any were recommended to self-isolate as a precaution. The database does not specify which part of the store the employees worked in.
Trio test positive at Bishop Ryan
A pair of students as well as a staff member at Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School have tested positive for COVID-19.
In a letter to families Saturday, the school's principal said the students were last in school on Jan. 21 and Jan. 22 and the staff member was last in the building on Jan. 22.
(Hamilton public health services) has indicated that the three cases do not constitute an outbreak," stated the principal in the letter.
Three classrooms at the high school have been closed and the school remains open, according to the board's online COVID-19 advisory. Contact tracing is being handled by public health.
A student at St. Matthew Catholic Elementary School has also tested positive for the virus. In a letter to families Saturday, the school's principal said the student was last in the school on Jan. 22.
One classroom has closed and the school remains open, according to the board.
A number of schools across the city remain open for in-person learning despite the province's stay-at-home" order. The schools are open to support the learning of some students with pervasive needs, defined as severe physical, medical and cognitive, among other, challenges.
Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com