Mandatory COVID-19 testing begins at Canada Post facility facing large outbreak

Amid an ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, Canada Post will begin mandatory testing of all workers at its Mississauga facility at the direction of Peel Public Health.

On-site testing began with one shift of workers at the Gateway facility on January 29, a media relations officer confirmed, and will continue on a larger scale next week.

Friday’s tests resulted in three new positive cases, Phil Legault said. The site has now seen 273 COVID-19 cases since January 1.

“Canada Post and Peel Public Health continue to work together in response to the situation at our Gateway facility in Mississauga,” Legault said,

Existing safety protocols, such as enhanced cleaning and mandatory face coverings, will continue to be reinforced, he noted.

As well, starting on Tuesday, employees will be screened for the virus before they enter the facility.

Operations at Gateway will continue, but Legault said that customers should expect their parcels to be delayed.

The outbreak has been affecting the facility since the start of 2021.

An entire shift of workers was previously told to self-isolate due to potential exposure, and several Canada Border Services Agency officers were moved to another part of the site as a precaution.

On January 27, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers said that a Gateway East employee who had previously tested positive for COVID-19 had died.