CK Public Health officials have confirmed the new workplace outbreak announced on Monday, January 18, 2021 was at New Vision in downtown Wallaceburg.
“The workplace disclosed for themselves that they had some positive cases and have voluntarily closed,” Jeff Moco, spokesperson for CK Public Health, told the Sydenham Current.
“We have begun the process in working with them to contact and isolate any patron that visited their establishment like we would do for all workplaces with positive cases.”
Moira Eggett, who co-owns the 455 James Street eyewear business with her husband Brad, said in a social media post on Sunday evening, January 17, 2021, they are closed as they “battle this ugly Corona virus.
“Based on the nature of our business, there isn’t any realistic way to service our customers from a distance,” Eggett said.
“Out of due diligence” Eggett said they provided the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit with an extensive customer list.
“From our understanding, Public Health is notifying everyone on the list and asking that they self-isolate,” she wrote.
“We take pride in our sanitizing/sterilizing practices and managed to make it through the first wave with no incidence. This time around, with even more business constraints, we were not considered virus exempt.”
Eggett added: “We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused, but we err on the side of caution. Anyone who does not receive a call by (Monday), please do not hesitate to call CK Public Health at 519-355-1071 x-1900. Please be kind, there shouldn’t be any finger pointing, we did not go out seeking this virus nor do we think anyone of our customers came to us knowing they had it. Again, the virus is very much ‘out there’.”
Eggett said the office will open as soon as they are given the all clear.
“Again our apologies but let me tell you first hand the symptoms are not enjoyable and do not wish them upon anyone,” she added.
Officials with the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit say an outbreak in a workplace setting is defined as two or more lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases with an epidemiological link in the workplace, for example the same work area, same shift, within a 14-day period, where both cases could have reasonably acquired their infection in the workplace.
As of Monday, January 18, 2021, there were 104 active COVID-19 cases, 14 outbreaks, including 10 workplace outbreaks, and 1,017 total cases across Chatham-Kent.
