More than 1,000 people are off work after Toyotetsu Canada shut down its auto parts plant in Simcoe due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
The company told employees on Monday about 10 active cases at the plant, and on Tuesday Toyotetsu officials decided to suspend operations at the sprawling 530,000-square-foot facility.
“Toyotetsu Canada has agreed to voluntarily shut down operations and close the plant out of an abundance of caution and will reopen when it is safe to do so,” the company said in a release issued Tuesday evening.
“Toyotetsu Canada will continue to work very closely and co-operatively with public health on any and all necessary outbreak measures to open as quickly and safely as possible.”
The plant — a major industrial employer in Norfolk County — makes a variety of car parts for regional Toyota and Lexus production lines.
Toyotetsu said 25 workers have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began. The company did not respond to an email from The Spectator Wednesday asking if the affected workers will be paid during the shutdown or will get help accessing employment insurance, and if the 10 workers who have tested positive are currently on paid sick leave.
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit spokesperson Kyra Hayes said the health unit has been “actively working with Toyotetsu to implement a public health management plan.”
The health unit did not order the closure, Hayes said.
“As per Toyotetsu’s public statement, they voluntarily agreed to cease production,” she said.
Down the road in Port Dover, The Arbor is closed after several staff members were identified as close contacts of confirmed COVID cases.
The century-old eatery closed for at least two weeks as of Monday to give affected employees time to self-isolate.
The temporary closure affects some two dozen employees.
The health unit is also monitoring a COVID-19 outbreak at the Hagersville location of gypsum wallboard manufacturer CGC.
There were 285 active cases of COVID-19 in Haldimand-Norfolk as of Wednesday morning. J.P. Antonacci’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows him to report on stories about the regions of Haldimand and Norfolk.
Public health declares COVID-19 outbreak at CHCH TV studios
- The Hamilton Spectator
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- SEBASTIAN BRON Sebastian Bron is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sbron@thespec.com
A COVID-19 outbreak involving a variant of concern has been declared at CHCH TV Hamilton.
Two staff members at the broadcaster have tested positive for novel coronavirus, according to public health’s latest outbreak update.
The Spectator reported on Tuesday that CHCH sportscaster Clint (Bubba) O’Neil remains in a Burlington hospital after a scary few days battling COVID-19.
The 54-year-old drove himself to Joseph Brant Hospital on Friday as his symptoms worsened. Within minutes of arriving, he tested positive for coronavirus and had oxygen tubes inserted into his nose.
The outbreak at CHCH is one of 38 active outbreaks in Hamilton.
The majority of them — 13 — are at workplaces, including one at National Steel Car that forced the rail car manufacturer to halt operations Friday after more than a dozen workers tested positive.
Twenty-seven people have since been infected at the Kenilworth Avenue North plant.
Other large, ongoing outbreaks at workplaces include Arytza/Oakrun Farm Bakery in Ancaster with 36 staff cases, three ArcelorMittal Dofasco sites with 19 staff cases and Air Wise Sales Inc. in Dundas with 14 staff cases.
All of the workplace outbreaks in Hamilton have screened positive for a variant of concern.
Employees at university, drug and grocery stores test positive for COVID
- The Hamilton Spectator
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- FALLON HEWITT Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. fhewitt@thespec.com
Cases of COVID-19 have been found at McMaster University, Shoppers Drug Mart, Fortinos, No Frills, and Sobeys in Hamilton.
In a release Monday, McMaster said they had been notified of a case involving a staff member.
The employee tested positive on April 23 and was last on campus April 22 in the Commons Building and Les Prince Hall, according to the university. All “impacted areas” have been cleaned and Hamilton public health is managing contact tracing.
Loblaw has identified a number of infections inside its Hamilton stores, according to the company’s online case tracker.
A pair of employees at the Fortinos grocery store at 21 Upper Centennial Pkwy. S. in Stoney Creek tested positive for COVID-19. Their last shifts were April 22 and April 24, according to Loblaw.
A worker at the Shoppers Drug Mart at 47 Wilson St. W. in Ancaster, as well as an employee at the Shoppers Drug Mart at 270 Mud St. W. in Stoney Creek have also tested positive.
Their last shifts were April 24 and April 22, respectively.
A worker at Kenny & Cindy’s No Frills at 930 Upper Paradise Rd. have also tested positive for COVID. Their last shift was on April 21.
A staff member at the Fortinos at 102 Highway 8 in Stoney Creek recently tested positive for the virus. Their last day at work was April 14.
According to Loblaw, when a worker tests positive they “work closely with public health and follow their guidance to ensure proper notification of close contacts and required cleaning and sanitization in our stores.”
A “corporate affiliate” at the Sobeys Extra at 977 Golf Links Rd. in Ancaster has tested positive for COVID-19. The company was notified of the case on April 27, according to its online case tracker.
The employee last worked on April 22.