CORNWALL – A Tim Hortons location on Tollgate Road West in Cornwall is closed and undergoing a thorough cleaning after an employee tested positive for coronavirus.
In an email to Cornwall Newswatch, a company spokesman says they were notified yesterday (April 15) that the team member tested positive for COVID-19. “We wish the employee a full recovery and we’re supporting them during this difficult time.”
Based on public health guidelines, the 81 Tollgate Road West location is closed for cleaning by a third party company and all employees who worked closely with the affected employee are self-isolating for 14 days.
The location is expected to open next week.
“The health and safety of guests and team members has been our top priority during this crisis. All of the affected employees will be supported through Tim Hortons corporate and restaurant owner COVID-19 compensation fund to make up for any lost wages,” the spokesman said.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis says the worker in question was “not serving clients” and there was “no risk to the public.”
“That one individual…was working in the back mostly, was not serving clients. As you know, the way that the clients are served, there’s a lot of protection. Our risk assessment did not show any risk to the public and that’s why we did not go public (with a notice),” Roumeliotis said.
Roumeliotis added repeatedly that he did not order the location to close and that it was a store decision, primarily because most of the staff would be off in isolation. The walk-in portion of the store was already closed under provincial orders.
No other locations in Cornwall are affected.