By: Tiffany Duong and Sara Matthis
The Weekly received confirmation early on April 18 from Publix corporate offices that an Islamorada store associate has tested positive for COVID-19.
In early April, an associate at the Marathon Publix was the first person in Marathon to test positive for the virus. As of the date of this writing, there are now five positive cases in Marathon.
Neither the health department nor the grocery store has named either individual.
As with the Marathon Publix, screenshots of internal corporate memos circulated on Keys’ social media days prior to the corporate confirmation. News reports from around the state have also cited coronavirus-positive employees at stores in Miami-Dade, Jacksonville, Orlando and Clearwater.
The email also said it’s impossible for the corporation to confirm employees who test positive “in real-time.”
According to Publix, the Islamorada employee will be self-quarantined and receive paid leave for 14 days as will any Publix employee who tests positive for COVID-19. Publix officials said they also will quarantine and provide paid leave for 14 days for associates who have been in close contact with the positive patient.
“As an essential service provider, the health and wellbeing of our customers, associates and communities are our top priority,” the confirmation emails from corporate to The Weekly state. “We are proud of how our dedicated associates are taking care of our customers and each other through this unprecedented and challenging time. And we thank our customers for continuing to trust us with providing them the goods and services they need.”
Publix also noted, “Like other essential services 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.”
Here are some measures Publix is taking to help protect employees and shoppers:
- A heightened ongoing disinfection program focusing on high-touch surfaces like touchpads, door and drawer handles, phones and computers;
- Continued cleaning and sanitization of stores;
- The installation of plexiglass shields at registers, customer service desks and pharmacies in all stores;
- In-store signage and public address announcements reminding customers and associates of social distancing;
- Visual reminders of appropriate six-foot spacing via marked lines at registers;
- Adjusted store hours to allow more time to conduct additional disinfection measures and restock shelves.
Publix has 809 stores throughout the state of Florida.
