Walmart has temporarily closed its super center in Anaheim and will close its San Clemente facility today for deep cleaning, the company said.
Stores are usually closed this way when employee results are positive or exposed to COVID-19, although the retailer declined to provide details, citing privacy concerns.
“All associates will be paid for the shifts they were scheduled to work on,” said Casey Staheli, senior manager of National Media Relations at Walmart, by email on Monday.
“If we have a confirmed case in any of our stores, we will be working with these associates and offering guidance and time for medical care,” he said.
Employees, said Staheli, were encouraged to “prioritize your health and stay home if you feel sick”.
The company said it has also implemented a COVID-19 emergency leave policy for all associates who feel unable or uncomfortable to go to work.
“Although we cannot confirm any store-related information at this time, we have been working to ensure that our stores are cleaned and sanitized regularly,” said Staheli.
Walmart said the supercenters at 951 Avenida Pico and 440 N. Euclid St. will be closed to give outsourced cleaning teams time to clean and sanitize buildings. The Anaheim store, which closed on Sunday, is scheduled to reopen at 7am on Tuesday. The San Clemente store closes at 2pm on Monday and will reopen on Wednesday.
Another superstore in San Jacinto also closed for deep cleaning over the weekend, and in early December, the super center in Corona closed for two days for sanitation.
“Everything we are doing is for the well-being of our associates and customers and taking into account the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and health experts,” the company said in a statement. “When the store reopens on Tuesday, we will continue to conduct health checks and temperature checks for members, and all members will receive masks and gloves.”
The retailer offers licenses to its employees affected by COVID-19. It was not clear whether the license was paid.
“We will continue to work closely with local and elected health officials, adjusting the way we serve the community, while keeping the health and safety of our customers and associates in mind,” said the statement from Walmart.
COVID-19 cases have increased across the state since Thanksgiving. The state reported an additional 28,871 new cases on Sunday, increasing the daily average last week to about 37,500 cases after falling briefly at Christmas. The death toll rose to 24,285, with an average of about 230 new victims a day last week, including 64 on Sunday.
In California, there were 14.5% more COVID-positive patients than in the previous week, compared to a 30% increase in the previous week.