The Atlantic Superstore in New Glasgow reopened at 7 a.m. April 9.
The store had temporarily closed after management learned that an employee of the store had tested positive for COVID-19.
Mark Boudreau, director of corporate affairs for Loblaw Atlantic, said staff took immediate action to make sure the store was safe.
“We have been in touch with the local public health officials and have taken a number of steps to minimize risk, including increased sanitization protocols and enforcing social distancing practices in the store,” Boudreau said. “The colleague was last in the store April 1, and was also wearing a protective mask. We are assured that the risk to others was relatively low.”
Citing confidentiality reasons, Boudreau said he was not able to provide details about the employee or what role they were working in.
He said there were immediate actions that the store took once they found out about the situation.
“The store was closed as soon as we found out the colleague tested positive. We were not required to do so, but decided that we would close the store out of abundance of caution,” he said.
Overnight a third party professional cleaning company came in to do a thorough cleaning of the store. In addition, employees are doing another round of sanitation themselves.
“We followed all protocols within the store recommended by public health officials,” Bourdreau said. “In fact, we went above and beyond what was required. Public health officials were satisfied with our protocols and have confirmed the risk to our customers was very low.”
