London, ON – The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) was notified late yesterday about a positive case of COVID-19 diagnosed in an employee of the Real Canadian Superstore, located at 825 Oxford Street East in London. The employee is a food handler who works in the store’s bakery with bread products. They have not worked at the grocery store since April 26th. Store management has advised MLHU staff that a thorough cleaning and sanitization have taken place.

MLHU staff have followed up with the grocery store employee and have identified their close contacts. The Health Unit is taking the additional step of advising Real Canadian Superstore customers who shopped Saturday, April 25th and Sunday, April 26th to take the COVID-19 Self-Assessment for Middlesex and London and visit the MLHU website at www.healthunit.com/info-rcss-customers for more information.

“Because of the kind of work this person did, we are reaching out to store customers who shopped last Saturday and Sunday and are asking them to do the self-assessment on our website and to monitor themselves for symptoms,” says Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health and CEO with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “We advise anyone who starts to exhibit symptoms of COVID-19, whether they are a Superstore customer or not, to visit one of the two Assessment Centres in London.”

The Health Unit is notified whenever an individual in London or Middlesex County tests positive for COVID-19. MLHU staff then contact the individual and retrace their activities in the days leading up to their symptoms and diagnosis in order to identify any close contacts who may require further follow up and guidance.

In addition to maintaining physical distancing, the Health Unit also recommends these steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Avoid all non-essential gatherings of any size.
• Stay home from work and other activities if you are sick.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 15-20 seconds or use a waterless hand sanitizer with at least 70 percent alcohol content.
• Cover coughs and/or sneezes with your sleeve or cough into your elbow.
• Clean high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, countertops and light switches, frequently.

For more information about COVID-19, please visit www.healthunit.com/novel-coronavirus or www.ontario.ca/coronavirus

Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit,
519-663-5317, extension 2469 of 519-617-0570 (cell)

Spokesperson:
Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health and CEO, Middlesex-London Health Unit