UPDATE Feb. 19, 2:30 p.m.: Simcoe Muskoka Health Unit has updated the number of employees associated with the “food and beverage services” outbreak in Muskoka to seven.
McDonald’s Canada has confirmed that an employee at its restaurant on King William Street has tested positive for COVID-19.
According to the company’s COVID-19 tracker, an employee at that location who tested positive last worked on Feb. 14, 2021. It has not listed additional cases in Huntsville as of publication time.
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit declared a workplace outbreak at a “food and beverage services” location in Muskoka on Feb. 17, but has not yet confirmed if it is McDonald’s.
When contacted by Doppler, the McDonald’s restaurant manager declined comment citing privacy. McDonald’s Canada has stated that it releases basic information “when we have been notified of an employee confirmed case of COVID-19 in our restaurants which results in a restaurant closure for cleaning and sanitization by a certified third party company.”
It advises “guests who may have visited the restaurant and have questions, [to]please take directions from your local public health experts.”
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit does not divulge the names of workplaces with COVID cases unless it determines there is a risk to public safety. The health unit declared a COVID-19 outbreak involving seven staff members at a food and beverage services workplace somewhere in Muskoka on Feb. 17, initially with one employee; the number of staff members involved was updated to seven on Feb. 19. SMDHU has not confirmed if this outbreak is at the McDonald’s in Huntsville.
In an email response to Doppler, the health unit said, “There is no requirement for a business to notify its customers of cases. In the event of an outbreak where public health felt there was a risk to the public and no way to track contacts we would publicly share information in an effort to let people know.”
Doppler has also heard from community members who were notified through contact tracing of a McDonald’s employee who received a positive test result on Feb. 9. That employee has been self-isolating since developing symptoms earlier that week. There are unverified reports other employees at the same McDonald’s location who live in Simcoe County also tested positive the same week. We have not been able to verify if these earlier reports have been included in the outbreak total.
See a summary of Doppler’s COVID-19 coverage here.
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Marg Jones says
If an employee tested positive on the 9th why is the public only hearing about it today? How many others have been affected because of this time lapse. The public has the right to know if we are ever going to get a hold on this Covid!
Michael Lowe says
This is a perfect example of the confusing information surrounding this pandemic. The right of privacy for some outweighs the rights of safe public health for every one else. Just think of the number of people who have used this McDonald’s location over the last week. Fortunately I am not one of them.
Harolyn HUSSAIN says
The article says ” SMDHU does not divulge the names of workplaces with COVID cases unless it determines there is a risk to public safety”. Are they for real ??? Anybody who was served at that place of service could be at that risk !!! The virus was at the workplace PERIOD !!! No wonder the “BUG” is spreading !!! People who might have been there need to know for their own safety and get tested if they feel the need. That should be THEIR choice !!!
brian tapley says
Wow. ” involving seven staff members at a food and beverage services workplace somewhere in Muskoka on Feb. 17,” is just such a helpful piece of information.
Lets see, Muskoka covers a pretty big area, Severn to Novar North and South and about the same East to West.
Like someone prior noted, if this is the effect of Privacy they might as well just say nothing as there is nothing useful in this notification to help me or anyone else “stay safe”.
The words, “too little, too late” come to mind and I can see how this virus can spread so quickly.
What is the latest prognostication for the arrival of the vaccine here in our area by the way? That would be something useful to have some handle on. There must be some kind of schedule or plan. Even if it has to change several times as it rolls out, a ballpark estimate sure would be a nice thing to think about.
Will Moore says
Why do we pay $284,000 in base salary (2020 salary) for a Regional Medical Officer of Health when this is what they provide to protect the community ?
What is the plan to contain community spread ?
It is easy to demand lockdowns and Stay at Home Orders when you, Regional Medical Officer of Health, feel no impact to your $284,000 salary from the misery.
It takes real courage to lead in difficult times and a proper plan to keep the public safe.
Sadly it is apparent that there is neither for the public in Muskoka.
Kim delagran says
Beyond the Health Department regulations and privacy rights, there are moral and ethical questions that need to be answered. Should it not be incumbent on a business owner, especially in food services, to publicly admit that there has been a staff member infected with Covid 19 immediately after confirmation?
Should the owner not immediately close the operation for deep cleaning and have all enmployees tested?
One would hope that in the interests of public safety, in the interests of a community that supports that business ,these steps would be taken . It does not appear that the Huntsville MacDonalds has taken this kind of care .
Hans Marschdorf says
As a resident, I would like to get information, whether contact tracing was successful so that every contact (or whichever percentage is applicable) has been identified and ordered to isolate. No names required, privacy securable. Apart from this being a health management issue, it is also an economic issue. The number of cases over the past 7 days (I just checked the SMDHU website for Huntsville for today, Feb 22, showing 7 cases for the past 7 days) brings us to a 7-day incidence rate per 100,000 residents of roughly 34. That is getting closer to big city levels. I, for one, will not shop in Huntsville until there’s reliable and actionable information. We still have Bracebridge and Gravenhurst and online merchants to choose from, although I understand that the situation can change any day. Business owners in Huntsville should put down their feet and demand solid explanations in order to ensure that their customers feel reasonably safe and shop here.