YORK, S.C.
An employee of the Lowe’s Home Improvement store in York has tested positive for coronavirus, company officials said.
The employee at the store on East Liberty Street has been quarantined at home after it was confirmed the associate had COVID-19, Lowe’s officials said in an email to The Herald.
“The well-being of our associates and customers is Lowe’s priority, and have confirmed a COVID-19 case of a Lowe’s associate at our York store, located at 1010 E Liberty St.,” the statement from Lowe’s said. “The associate has been quarantined and is receiving care.”
Other employees who worked closely with the associate have been placed on paid leave, Lowe’s said in the statement. It remains unclear how many other workers at the store had close contact with the employee who tested positive.
“In an abundance of caution, associates who had worked closely with this individual over a period of time have been put on a paid leave,” the statement said.
The store was cleaned in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, according to Lowe’s. The store remains open for customers, Lowe’s said in the statement.
The store has added third shift daily cleaning to its daily regimen, Lowe’s officials said.
Home improvement stores are deemed essential under the South Carolina stay-at-home emergency order issued by Gov. Henry McMaster, which took effect Tuesday at 5 p.m.
Under the order, the governor also limited store capacity to five people per 1,000 square feet — or 20% of posted capacity.
Lowe’s operates other York County stores in Rock Hill, Fort Mill and Lake Wylie. It also has a store in the Indian Land area of Lancaster County. The company has shortened hours during the coronavirus pandemic and announced on its website that all stores will be closed on Easter Sunday.
Lowe’s is based in Mooresville, North Carolina, north of Charlotte. The company has had other positive cases at North Carolina stores, according to The Charlotte Observer.
Positive coronavirus cases have been reported in York County at Chandler Place senior living facility, and among employees at the York County Sheriff’s Office, Clover Police Department, and Rock Hill Police Department.
More than 100 positive cases have been confirmed in York County, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Andrew Dys covers breaking news and public safety for The Herald, where he has been a reporter and columnist since 2000. He has won 51 South Carolina Press Association awards for his coverage of crime, race, justice, and people. He is author of the book “Slice of Dys” and his work is in the U.S. Library of Congress.