WORCESTER, Mass. — Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus announced another coronavirus outbreak in the city, this one at a Sam’s Club distribution center on Tobias Boland Way.
Augustus said 19 employees recently tested positive for COVID-19.
The Sam’s Club distribution center is in the same shopping plaza as the Walmart store where 81 employees were diagnosed with COVID-19 last month. At that time, nine Sam’s Club employees were also diagnosed. Unlike Walmart, Sam’s Club employees do not have any interaction with customers. “That facility is not open to the public,” said Augustus. “It’s just Sam’s Club employees there.”
During his daily briefing Tuesday, Augustus said the facility is stepping up its staff support.
“They have a 24-hour nursing presence now at the facility,” said Augustus. “They also have a clinical individual there who’s giving guidance on mental health issues or any anxiety issues that employees may have so they’ve really stepped up since the last outbreak.”
This latest cluster of cases comes as Gov. Charlie Baker says the state is on the other side of the surge.
As an essential business, the distribution center has remained open throughout the entire pandemic.
“They feel like they’re doing everything that they should, they’ve followed the right protocols,” said Augustus. “These individuals have been in and out as essential employees as the Sam’s Club distribution center fulfills online orders for folks who are at home who need that food and other necessities delivered to their home, so they are considered an essential service.”
As of Wednesday morning, there were no immediate plans to shut down the distribution center, but Augustus said he would provide more updates in the coming days.
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