McDonald's restaurant shuts down after employee reports positive COVID-19 test
Restaurant chain is in contact with Alberta Health Services to confirm the report
McDonald's has closed down one of its restaurants in southeast Calgary after an employee reported testing positive for COVID-19.
The restaurant, at 20 Riverglen Drive S.E., was shut down after the employee reported the complaint March 19. The employee last worked a shift on March 9.
"We are in contact with Alberta Health Services to confirm this report," reads a statement from McDonald's Canada. "Out of an abundance of caution, McDonald's Canada made the decision to immediately shut down the restaurant for a thorough cleaning and sanitation by third-party cleaning experts."
The restaurant will reopen once AHS has given approval, the statement says.
All restaurant staff who may have worked with the individual have been asked to self-quarantine.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the province's chief medical officer of health, didn't have specific information related to the case during her daily press conference Friday.
"I would caution all of you, if you're getting reports, sometimes those reports are simply of someone who is sick and is being tested, and they may not actually be a confirmed case," she said. "So that caution in terms of verification."
Hinshaw said COVID-19 is not a food-borne illness, but to be absolutely safe, people should wash their hands before eating food and use hand sanitizer.
Alberta has 49 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the province's total to 195 cases, Hinshaw said Friday.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?Common symptoms include:
But more serious symptoms can develop, including difficulty breathing and pneumonia, which can lead to death. What should I do if I feel sick? Isolate yourself and call your local public health authority. Do not visit an emergency room or urgent care centre to get tested. How can I protect myself?
More detailed information on the outbreak is available on the federal government's website. Important reminder: The World Health Organization said more than 80 per cent of COVID-19 infections are estimated to be mild. |
- Have you got a news tip tied to the COVID-19 outbreak? You can reach CBC Calgary at calgarynewstips@cbc.ca or CBC Edmonton here.
Clarifications
- This article has been updated to reflect that while the employee reported their positive test for COVID-19 on March 19, the last shift they worked at the restaurant was March 9.Mar 21, 2020 5:04 PM MT