3 Rock Hill, Lancaster Food Lion workers test positive for coronavirus, company says
Three Food Lion employees at stores in Rock Hill and Lancaster tested positive for coronavirus in late August, company officials said.
The three employees worked at the Heckle Boulevard and Ebenezer Road stores in Rock Hill, and the Airport Road store in Lancaster, said Matt Harakal, spokesperson for Food Lion.
In a statement to The Herald, Harakal said the Ebenezer Road employee who tested positive last worked Aug. 20. The Heckle Boulevard employee last worked Aug. 23, and the Lancaster store employee last worked Aug. 26.
The employees have not returned to work and remain quarantined, Harakal said.
“None of these associates will return to work until they have met medical guidance and/or have cleared the quarantine guidelines as instructed by the CDC,” Harakal told The Herald. “In an abundance of caution, we took immediate action at each of these locations to execute an enhanced cleaning procedure as guided from the local, state and national health authorities, including the CDC. These cleaning procedures were in addition to our ongoing, rigorous sanitary practices, which have been greatly expanded during the health crisis.”
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, grocery stores were deemed essential by South Carolina officials and have remained open.
Seventeen Food Lion employees in York and Lancaster counties have now tested positive for the virus since the pandemic started in March, according to the company. The Salisbury, N.C.-based chain operates 14 stores in York, Chester and Lancaster counties in South Carolina.
Food Lion has the third-largest market share of grocery store customers in the Charlotte region that includes York and Lancaster counties, according to the Charlotte Observer.
Publix has had five employees in York and Lancaster counties test positive during the pandemic, company officials said. Harris Teeter confirmed one positive test among a Rock Hill store employee in July.
More than 4,300 people in York County and more than 1,600 people in Lancaster County have tested positive for coronavirus since March, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
