Coronavirus In Brookline: 2nd Whole Foods Worker Tests Positive

BROOKLINE, MA — A second employee of Whole Foods in Brookline tested positive for the new coronavirus, the chain confirmed to Patch Thursday.

In Brookline Thursday there were 93 residents who had tested positive for COVID-19, the diseas caused by the coronavirus. Thursday, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced 70 new deaths from the new coronavirus, bringing the state's death toll to 503. There are 2,151 new cases for a total of 18,941 cases.

"The safety of our Team Members and customers is our top priority and we are diligently following all guidance from local health and food safety authorities," Whole Foods said in an emailed statement on March 31, after the first employee tested positive.

A spokesperson declined to say when the person last worked or whether customers or other employees were potentially exposed at the store on Beacon Street in the St. Mary's neighborhood of Brookline.

A spokesperson said protocols include:

• Operating under social distancing guidelines as well as crowd control measures as needed. They have installed sneeze guards at check out and are requiring temperature checks for anyone working in stores and facilities.
• Enhanced daily cleanliness and disinfection protocols across all stores and facilities, on top of standard stringent protocols.  
• Closing up to two hours early to give Team Members more time to restock shelves, sanitize our stores, and rest in preparation for the next day. 

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