Workers at Columbia, Fort Mill Publix stores test positive for coronavirus
Employees at five Columbia area grocery stores, and one each in Charleston and Fort Mill, have tested positive for coronavirus, a spokeswoman for the company confirmed Wednesday.
Publix had 30 stores in the Palmetto State. Each of the seven stores confirmed by the company had one case of COVID-19 each. They are at:
▪ 2800 Rosewood Drive, Columbia
▪ 4840 Forest Dr Ste 10, Forest Acres
▪ 150 Harbison Blvd., Irmo
▪ 4611 Hard Scrabble Road, northeast Columbia
▪ 2732 N Lake Drive, Lexington
▪ 3642 Savannah Hwy Ste 132, Johns Island
▪ 928 Gold Hill Road, Fort Mill
The locations were first reported by the Post & Courier of Charleston.
In addition, Whole Foods has had one presumed case of coronavirus at its Cross Hill Market store near Fort Jackson, a spokeswoman for the company told The State.
That employee’s last day worked prior to learning of the positive diagnosis was more than 30 days ago, the spokeswoman said.
The State has reached out to other major grocery chains in South Carolina.
Publix spokeswoman Maria Brous wrote in a statement:
“We thank our customers for continuing to trust us with providing them with the goods and services they need. Like other essential service providers, we have seen our own associates and their families personally impacted by COVID-19. Unfortunately, as public health officials have indicated, we expect to see an increase in cases as the virus spreads in our communities.”
She added that “the testing and reporting of cases by health departments varies widely state-by-state. As a result, we cannot fully and accurately report cases in real time, but we have been, and will continue to be, keenly focused on intensive, ongoing protective measures in all our stores.”
Brous said those efforts are being instituted with guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, local and state health departments. They include:
• A heightened disinfection program focusing on touch pads, door and drawer handles, phones and computers.
• Continued cleaning and sanitation of stores.
• The installation of plexiglass shields at registers, customer service desks and pharmacies in all stores.
• Requiring workers to wear face coverings.
In addition, the company has established:
• Quarantine and paid leave for 14 days for any worker who tests positive.
• Notification, quarantine and paid leave for up to 14 days for associates who have been in close contact with a worker who tests positive.
• In-store signage, one-way directional aisles, and public address announcements reminding customers and associates of social distancing.
• Visual reminders of appropriate six-foot spacing via marked lines at registers.
• Adjusted store hours to allow more time to conduct additional disinfection measures and restock shelves.
Whole Food has enacted similar measures, a spokeswoman said.
This story was originally published May 6, 2020 at 4:17 PM.