At least 11 Publix employees test positive for COVID-19 in Tampa Bay area
At least 11 Publix employees across the Tampa Bay area tested positive for coronavirus in June.
Publix confirmed the cases after the Tampa Bay Times obtained a list of affected stores created by employees. The Florida Department of Health does not release which positive cases are among retail workers or which store locations are affected. The state also does not require stores to self-report.
The string of confirmed cases includes four stores in Hillsborough County, six in Pinellas County and one in Pasco County.
“The testing and reporting of cases by health departments varies widely state-by-state,” Publix spokeswoman Maria Brous said in a statement. “As a result, we cannot fully and accurately report cases in real time, but we have been, and will continue to be, keenly focused on intensive, ongoing protective measures in all our stores.”
Two of the cases happened more than two weeks ago, at the store on 725 1st Ave S. in St. Petersburg and the one at 5450 E. Busch Boulevard in Temple Terrace, Brous said.
The other stores with positive cases in the latter half of June are:
- 7333 Park Blvd. N., Pinellas Park
- 200 37th Ave. N., St. Petersburg
- 7999 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N., St. Petersburg
- 3030 54th Ave. S., St. Petersburg
- 4655 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach
- 8701 W Hillsborough Ave., Tampa
- 4425 E. Fletcher Ave., Tampa
- 11502 N 53rd St., Temple Terrace
- 12500 State Road 54, Odessa
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