Employees at 8 more Southwest Florida Publix locations test positive for coronavirus

While managing substantial crowds throughout the coronavirus pandemic, certain grocery chains like Publix have seen increasing employee cases of exposure. 

Publix is openly reporting when an employee tests positive for the novel coronavirus when asked about specific locations, and its Southwest Florida stores have seen more infections over the past several weeks. The virus can lead to the disease known as COVID-19.

The News-Press previously inquired about Publix employee cases in May and requested confirmation for over 50 Southwest Florida locations. At that time, 12 of these stores had at least one employee who had tested positive, and only one was in Collier County.

Those stores included: 6900 Daniels Parkway, Suite 19, in Fort Myers; 13650 Fiddlesticks Blvd. in south Fort Myers; 16950 San Carlos Blvd. in south Fort Myers; 20321 Summerlin Road in south Fort Myers; 7950 Dani Drive, Suite 200, in Fort Myers; 13121 Paul J. Doherty Parkway in southeast Fort Myers; 20311 Grande Oak Shoppes Boulevard in Estero; 5781 Lee Blvd. in Lehigh Acres; 5997 South Pointe Blvd., Suite 106, in south Fort Myers; 15880 Summerlin Road in south Fort Myers; 1851 Palm Beach Blvd. in Fort Myers; and 13550 Immokalee Road in Naples.

When asked again this week, a Publix representative confirmed that eight more locations have had positive employee cases. These locations are: 2310 Pine Ridge Road in Naples; 12663 Tamiami Trail E. in Naples; 11600 Gladiolus Drive in Fort Myers; 24600 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 300, in Bonita Springs; 5624 Strand Blvd. in Naples; 15265 Collier Blvd. in Naples; 2420 Santa Barbara Blvd. (off Veterans Parkway) in Cape Coral; and 26841 S. Tamiami Trail in Bonita Springs.

Previously:Employees from 2 more Southwest Florida Publix locations test positive for coronavirus

Plus:Employees from five more Southwest Florida Publix stores test positive for coronavirus

The locations at 20321 Summerlin Road in Fort Myers, 20311 Grande Oak Shoppes Blvd. in Estero and 13650 Fiddlesticks Blvd. n Fort Myers have had more than one employee test positive for the virus.

"Unfortunately, as public health officials have indicated, we expect to see an increase in cases as the virus spreads in our communities," said Maria Brous, Publix's director of communications, in an emailed statement. 

"We recognize that the testing and reporting of cases by health departments varies widely state-by-state," she added. "As a result, we cannot fully and accurately report cases in real time; however, we believe in working with transparency. We are all in this together."

However, not all chains with Southwest Florida locations are openly reporting their cases. Certain companies have taken varying steps in informing media outlets and the public of positive employees. A Walmart representative, for example, said the company could not provide any information regarding employee cases at specific locations. 

"Rest assured we are taking all measures necessary to ensure the well-being of those inside our stores," said Charles Crowson, a senior manager of corporate communications for Walmart, in an emailed statement. "In the event we do have a confirmed case at any of our stores, we are working with those associates and offering guidance and time needed to receive medical care. Associates have been encouraged to prioritize their health and stay home if feeling sick."

Target declined to provide information about specific cases when asked about their locations in Lee and Collier counties, but a company statement sent to The News-Press stated that "the number of confirmed cases we’re seeing across our team is lower than the percent being reported for the U.S population."

Some chains — with far fewer area locations than that of Publix or Walmart — have been sharing employee cases with the public but have reported no cases in Lee or Collier.

Sprouts, for example, has an entire page on their website in which store information related to employee cases is updated. The page shows that no Southwest Florida stores have had a recent positive employee case. The chain has just two locations in Lee and Collier counties. 

Additionally, none of the nine Aldi grocery store locations in Lee and Collier have had a positive employee case, according to an emailed statement from the company. 

The Fresh Market, which has four locations in the two counties, has had no employees test positive, according to Meghan Flynn, The Fresh Market director of communications and community.

Whole Foods, which only has two locations in the counties, also has had no positive employee cases, according to Rachel Malish, a public relations specialist with Whole Foods. 

Reach Andrew Wigdor at awigdor@gannett.com and on Twitter @andrew_wigdor