Another 18 employees from Worcester Sam's Club test COVID positive
Photo | Grant Welker
The Sam's Club fulfillment center in Worcester
A total of 27 people have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Worcester Sam's Club fulfillment center at 1 Tobias Boland Way, the city confirmed in a press release on Wednesday.
The total includes 18 new positive cases on top of nine cases confirmed between the end of April and the first week of May, when the Walmart on Tobias Boland Way was temporarily shuttered due to employees testing positive for the virus.
Those impacted at Sam's Club include five cleaning contractors, the city said in a Wednesday press release. Additional virus testing is scheduled to take place on site on Thursday.
Health officials reportedly visited both the Sam's Club and the Walmart on Tuesday, where, according to the city, they determined the facilities were adhering to social distancing and sanitization guidelines.
At a Tuesday press conference, City Manager Edward Augustus underscored Sam's Club fulfills orders and is not open to the public.
“They’ve really stepped up since the last outbreak," Augustus said.
When Walmart reopened following its week-long closure, a company spokesperson said employees would be provided with personal protective equipment and would submit to health screenings before every shift. The store was set to install sneeze guards at registers and limit the number of customers who could be inside at one time, as well as institute one-way aisle shopping, among other provisions similar to those in place at other large stores.
According to the city, a nurse takes Sam's Club employee temperatures when they enter the building.
Sam's Club is considered essential because it fulfills food and essential good orders for shoppers at home, Augustus said on Tuesday, adding more information would likely be available Thursday.
Sam's Club said in an email Wednesday night that the company is keeping a nurse on site for every shift. The company added that employee testing will be available on location beginning Thursday, and that it will be open to the public on Friday in the neighboring Walmart parking lot.
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments