2021-05-05

Potential COVID-19 exposure at Bridgewater supermarket

Nova Scotia Health is advising of potential coronavirus exposures at Bridgewater's Atlantic Superstore during a three-day period in April.

Anyone who worked at or visited the Davison Drive supermarket between 10:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. April 19, between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on April 20 and on April 21 between 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. should book a COVID-19 test, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. Nova Scotia Health issued the advisory April 27.

It is anticipated that anyone exposed to the virus at this location on the named date may develop symptoms up to, and including, May 5," the agency noted in a statement.

"If you do not have any symptoms of COVID-19 you do not need to self-isolate while you wait for your test result. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 you are required to self-isolate while you wait for your test result."

Loblaw Companies, Superstore's parent company, declined an interview but sent LighthouseNOW a statement via email.

"As a company, we are in touch with the local public health team and have taken a number of steps to minimize risk, including increased sanitizing protocols and enforcing social distancing practices in the store," spokesman Mark Boudreau told LighthouseNOW.

Public health guidelines are being followed and the company is working with government officials to meet and exceed safety protocols, he said. "Public health is the central point of contact in monitoring, identifying and providing public guidance on COVID-19."

Restaurants in Cookville and Chester temporarily shuttered in response to Nova Scotia Health, on April 22 and 23, identifying potential coronavirus exposures at a hotel and eatery.

Although not identified by government as a potential exposure site, some local businesses opted for interim closures to be on the safe side. A Lunenburg pub closed between April 24 and 26 after finding out a staffer was in contact with someone else who worked at a location identified as a potential exposure site.

In early April, Nova Scotia Health wanted anyone who lived in, or visited, anywhere between Hebbville and Middlewood to get tested for COVID-19 whether symptomatic or not, as it investigated confirmed cases on the South Shore. Public Health's mobile testing unit set-up for three days in the western end of Lunenburg County and, at the time, appointment availability and operating hours were boosted at primary assessment centres in Bridgewater and Liverpool. The health agency's advisory at the time came two days after a volunteer fire department in Lunenburg County advised of a positive COVID-19 case within its membership.

In late March, a Liverpool restaurant temporarily closed and a Queens County nursing home restricted visitation out of caution for a period of time after one of the officials of the Main Street eatery tested positive for COVID-19.

Back on March 25, Nova Scotia Health advised of a potential virus exposure March 21 at Bridgewater sandwich shop.

A Lunenburg restaurant and a Bridgewater college each independently advised of potential exposures back in November 2020.