Good Foods Co-op closes because kitchen worker has COVID, but store, cafe to reopen
A kitchen worker at Good Foods Co-op, a grocery and cafe on Southland Drive in Lexington, has tested positive for coronavirus.
The store notified the public on Tuesday that the store would be closing that day for a day for deep cleaning. The grocery sells organic produce, meats, dairy products, bulk goods and plant-based foods. The Good Foods Cafe’s hot bar and salad bar have been closed for weeks but cafe has offered “grab and go” pre-packaged items as well as sandwiches made to order.
According to an email from the cooperative, the employee last worked in the kitchen on Thursday; the employee received a positive test result Tuesday morning and notified the store.
“While we have been practicing responsible social distancing, out of an abundance of caution, we immediately sent home any individuals who had worked near the employee, while we work with the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department to identify any individuals who may be at risk of having contracted the virus,” the store said.
The worker who tested positive, as well as those asked to self-quarantine, will be “on paid leave for at least the recommended 14 days,” the email said.
Employees at Kroger and Walmart also have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks.
Good Foods said that the store uses “a rigorous disinfection protocol in our store and kitchen throughout the day, every day, and have increased focus in the area in which this person worked. At this time we are starting the process to close the store for the day in order to do a top to bottom deep clean of all surfaces.”
All food service from the store’s cafe will be closed down for two weeks, dating to last Thursday, “out of an abundance of caution,” Good Foods said.
We will continue to monitor the situation and follow Health Department recommendations moving forward,” the store said. “We appreciate your support as we work diligently to stop the spread and ensure the health of our staff and shoppers!”
This story was originally published April 7, 2020 at 1:35 PM.
