An employee of a Cobb County Whole Foods Market has tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, officials confirmed to AJC.com on Tuesday.
The employee worked for the store on Barrett Parkway in Kennesaw, a spokeswoman for the company said. It is not clear when the employee was diagnosed with the virus or the last time they were inside the store.
“The safety of our team members and customers is our top priority and we are diligently following all guidance from local health and food safety authorities,” Whole Foods said in an emailed statement to AJC.com. “We’ve been working closely with our store team members, and are supporting the diagnosed team member, who is in quarantine. Out of an abundance of caution, the store performed an additional cleaning and disinfection, on top of our current enhanced sanitation measures.”
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As of Tuesday, the Kennesaw grocer remained open for business. No plans to close the store were indicated.
Whole Foods said it has “enhanced daily cleanliness and sanitation protocols across all stores and facilities” to help contain the spread of the coronavirus. It is also closing its stores up to two hours early to allow team members to restock shelves and sanitize stores.
Like many grocery chains, Whole Foods has also changed its hours to accommodate older shoppers or customers who may be at a higher risk of complications due to the coronavirus. Shoppers over the age of 60 are permitted to enter the store at 7 a.m., and all other shoppers are allowed entry at 8 a.m. daily.
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