Customers who visited the Bonnyville 7-Eleven convenience store on 49 Ave and 37 Street on or around December 17 are being advised to monitor their health as a confirmed case of COVID-19 has been linked to the store's location.
In a press release issued on January 4, the marketing firm representing some of the vendors at the Bonnyville 7-Eleven location says despite thorough cleaning and sanitizing of the store, a confirmed case of the respiratory virus was discovered. The release states that staff, vendors and customers associated with the location should monitor their health conditions for 14 days after the identified date — which was 18 days before the notice was sent out.
"The health and safety of our customers, employees and the communities we serve is the top priority for 7-Eleven Canada," notes Faaria Yakub, a spokesperson for Nexxus, the US-based company responsible for the scan-based technology used in the convenience stores.
Self assessment evaluations for anyone experiencing suspected COVID-19 symptoms are available online at the Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services websites.
Despite the confirmed case, Nexxus officials say the 7-Eleven franchise and its partners are doing everything possible in every community they serve to reduce contamination risks of the virus that has caused a global pandemic.
"As a neighborhood store and convenient delivery provider in so many communities, 7-Eleven Canada has taken steps to prioritize the health of our customers and employees across our 636 stores in Canada," notes Yakub. "We have enhanced our standards and procedures for hygiene, handwashing, sanitation, food handling and preparation in stores, and increased the frequency of cleaning high-touch surfaces. We have installed sneeze guards at sales counters and visual floor markers in checkout lines that reinforce social distancing, as well as limit customer traffic in stores."