4 South Florida Publix employees have tested positive for coronavirus, company confirms
Publix employees who work in Miami Shores, Miami Beach, Boca Raton and in the Florida Keys have tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, according to internal company emails obtained by the Miami Herald.
Employees from the Publix in Miami Shores, 9050 Biscayne Blvd., received an email from the company that read: “The health and safety of our associates is the top priority of Publix. We were recently notified that an associate at store #794 has tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus).”
The Miami Herald has also obtained an internal communication that said an employee at South Beach’s Fifth and Alton shopping center Publix had tested positive for COVID-19. The Herald has also learned that an employee at 9720 Clint Moore Rd. in Boca Raton and a worker at 5407 Overseas Highway in Marathon in the Florida Keys have tested positive as well.
The internal emails went on to say that other employees who worked with the positive patients have been told about their results and are self-quarantining at home. Publix told employees to stay away from sick people and to not come in to work if they have cold-like symptoms.
On Friday, Publix confirmed all four employees have tested positive for COVID-19.
“Like other essential service providers, we have seen our own associates and their families personally impacted by COVID-19. Unfortunately, as public health officials have indicated, we expect to see an increase in cases as the virus spreads in our communities,” said Maria Brous, Publix’s director of media and community relations.
“Publix will continue to closely monitor this emerging public health situation, and take all recommended precautions to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in our associates, their family member, and our customers,” the internal email said.
The company also confirmed on Monday that a Publix employee in a Southwest Miami-Dade store, 9420 SW 56th St., had tested positive for the coronavirus.
Publix is providing up to 14 days of paid leave on quarantine for employees who test positive for COVID-19 and the same for other workers who have been in close contact with an employee who tests positive, Publix told the Miami Herald.
The Florida-based supermarket chain has begun installing Plexiglas to separate cashiers and customers. Publix is also now allowing select employees to wear gloves and masks during the rest of the coronavirus national emergency. That doesn’t include employees in the deli, meat and seafood departments.
These safety changes came after several forms of protest from the community. More than 7,000 signed a Change.org petition demanding personal protective equipment be allowed.
Others told the Miami Herald it was discouraged by management. Three workers in North Florida filed a workplace safety complaint over the mask prohibition with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 11:00 AM.
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