Brampton Tim Hortons employee tests positive for coronavirus

Brampton mayor Patrick Brown says an employee at a Tim Hortons in the city has tested positive for COVID-19.

The store is located at a Petro Canada gas station at 11980 Highway 10 in Brampton.

Brown said in a tweet that anyone who went to the location for gas, coffee or supplies between March 9 to 20 is asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

However, Peel Public Health said its investigation determined that none of the close contacts with the patient in question were customers and that no public exposure had occurred.

“Our Public Health team was able to identify and contact all individuals impacted. This meant that broad public notification was not needed to identify anyone else who may have been exposed to COVID-19,” said Dr. Lawrence Loh, Interim Medical Officer of Health. “Unfortunately, this situation has caused considerable concern in the community.”

Tim Hortons responded on Twitter saying the employee is at home with “minimal symptoms.” Other employees at the store are self-isolating for two weeks as a precaution.

The coffee chain added that the location was closed immediately and thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. The store will reopen only once it is safe for employees to return to work.

Peel Public Health says residents should stay close to home and if they have to go out, they need to practice social distancing.

“We are now seeing community transmission of COVID-19 in the GTA, including Peel,” said Loh. “Peel residents should take appropriate protective steps whenever they go out because the virus is here.”