Employees at several grocery stores operated by Sobeys have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). The company operates familiar major grocery chains like Safeway and Thrifty Foods in B.C.
Sobeys Inc. posted an update to its online employee COVID-19 case tracker on Feb. 26, indicating the following newly affected stores:
- Safeway - 2733 West Broadway, Vancouver: Store employee last worked Feb. 18
- Safeway - 700 – 15355 24 Avenue, Surrey: Store employee last worked Feb. 23
- Thrifty Foods- 310 Edgemont Blvd. North Vancouver: Store employee last worked Feb. 23
Additionally, Sobeys reported a second store worker case at Thrifty Foods located on Cliffe Ave in Courtenay on Vancouver Island. Previously, on Feb. 24, Sobeys reported a team member test positive COVID-19 case for someone working at the Safeway on 120th St in North Delta.
None of the store locations are considered public exposure locations by its governing health authority; in Metro Vancouver that includes Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health.
While Loblaw did not report on Feb. 26 any new worker cases from employees working in Metro Vancouver, the company did indicate that an unspecified number of workers at its Real Canadian Superstore in Duncan have tested positive; that location now has two listings on the Loblaw Companies Ltd. case tracker as having "multiple" team member cases.
On Thursday, Loblaw reported its discount grocery stores are starting to win back market share after consumers flocked to conventional supermarkets at the outset of the pandemic, according to the company president.
COVID-19 restrictions prompted many consumers to opt for conventional grocery stores as they sought a more "complete shop" while they limited the number of times they shopped a week.
While grocery chains are preparing to have their onsite pharmacies take part in administering COVID-19 vaccines elsewhere across Canada, they are not so far planning to do so in British Columbia.
With files from the Canadian Press
