Employee at Canada Post in Calgary tested positive for COVID-19

CALGARY (660 NEWS) — An employee at Canada Post’s Deerfoot South facility in Calgary tested positive for COVID-19 on March 15.

Thirteen other employees had to self-quarantine until told by Alberta Health Services that they could come back to work.

“We followed AHS’s guidance throughout,” said John Hamilton, spokesperson for Canada Post. “We did a two-stage cleaning process using medical-grade disinfectants, focusing on surfaces and touchpoints, and sprayed throughout the facility.”

Canada Post worked with the health authority to reach employees who may have had contact with the person who tested positive for the virus.

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“(AHS) was in our facility several times, helping us with that process,” Hamilton told 660 NEWS. “We didn’t re-open until they deemed it was safe to do so.”

He said AHS also looked at the approach the facility is taking to protect its employees and they provided tips and guidance moving forward.

The 13 employees who were quarantined have since returned to work.

Hamilton said Canada Post did not tell the employees when they could come back and that decision was made by Alberta’s health authority. 

He commended AHS’s response to the incident.

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Canada Post has over 55,000 employees across the country.

Canada Post had another incident in Newfoundland last weekend, where several employees tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a funeral. 

Operations at that facility have halted until Canada Post is told they can re-open. 

“Until we are told it’s safe for us to resume operations, we’ll stand pat,” Hamilton added. “When (Eastern Health) says it’s safe, we’ll return knowing it’s safe.”