Courtney Luciana Photos
Adjoa “Monday” Ofosu-Adu sprays down customer’s cart Thursday.
Shopper Rose: Leaves house only to go to the store.
New Haven’s health department gave the Foxon Boulevard Walmart outlet 72 hours to clean up its Covid-19 act or shut down.
Shoppers were upset to learn about conditions at the store, but also concerned about where else they would buy food and clothes.
The health department hand-delivered the “final warning” notice to the store on Thursday.
The notice details nine violations of Covid-19 health and safety orders and formal warnings dating back to April 3.
Health Director Maritza Bond issued the notice after a phone conversation with store management. The notice gives the store 72 hours to submit to her office a corrective plan, including how it will institute new disinfecting and training and Covid reporting and tracing protocols.
“Please know that I take these matters very seriously and if you are found to be in violation again, your establishment will be shut down without warning and you will face legal action,” Bond wrote.
“This letter serves as your FINAL WARNING.”
A store manager declined comment Thursday and referred the Independent to the corporation’s media relations department. That department failed to respond to a request for comment.
Update: Bond said Sunday that the company did deliver documents in response to the city’s warning notice. So the store remained open as the city reviews the documents.
The notice — read it in full here — states that the store has repeatedly exceeded capacity limits, had employees not wearing masks (or not wearing them properly), and violated protocols for disinfecting and training on Covid-19 guidelines. Those actions run afoul of “State of Connecticut Sector Rules” for businesses operating during the Covid-19 pandemic under Gov. Ned Lamont’s executive orders.
It also reports that the health department received a “delayed response” from the company after learning on Nov. 2 that an employee had tested positive for Covid-19.
“For the purpose of contact tracing, this department attempted to collect information from your staff, numerous times; however, there was a delayed response,” Bond wrote.
“This information is time sensitive and crucial in trying to safeguard and protect the health and safety of all your employees and patrons that frequent this establishment. Moreover, it has been brought to our attention that there may have been additional COVID- 19 cases among your employees in the previous weeks.”
Seniors Dependent, At Risk
Shopper Rose: Leaves house only to go to the store.
Bond told the press she gave the store the extra 72 hours rather than immediately closing it because it is an “essential business” on which many people — including the seniors at nearby Bella Vista — rely for groceries and household supplies.
“That aging population, many with chronic health conditions, are some of our most vulnerable residents to the impact of COVID-19. With that, it is important that the store follows the State and local Health departments’ COVID-19 guidelines to keep customers and employees safe,” Bond noted in a separate written statement.
George Rose is one of those elderly shoppers
“Really? It’s going to shut down?” Rose asked in disbelief when told Thursday about the order as he left the store. “There’s another Walmart in Hamden, but they’re not as nice.”
During the pandemic, Rose said, he has left the house only to go to the store.
Limited Options
Shoppers Destiny James, Yasmine Brown, and Daniel Bowling outside the store Thursday
Siblings Destiny James, Yasmine Brown, and Daniel Bowling waited outside the store for an Uber. James said that despite the allegations of unsafe conditions,she doesn’t think there’s really any other place for her to go.
“If you’re from the area, it’s either here or Shop Rite. Shop Rite has half of what Walmart has,” James said. “I’ll just be careful of what I buy. I’ll come for the boxed, canned stuff, and clothes for my son.”
James had purchased condiments and a baby shower gift. She had spent $30.
Brown had a cart filled with food, drinks, and other household items that came to out to $150. Brown said that hearing that Foxon employees allegedly had COVID-19 does worry her.
“If this is shutdown in 3 days then I’ll probably go to the Milford Walmart,” Brown said. “I’m not going to the Hamden one. You’ve got to get what you need somehow and this is closer to where we live”
“It’s hard because unless you have a Costco or a BJ’s Walmart actually accommodates to more of the items that you need,” Bowling said.
Jonnef Green, standing with a fully packed cart in the parking lot to leave, said that she was upset for not knowing that the store had been violating Covid-19 protocol before purchasing. She said she doesn’t plan on returning to the store.
“I wouldn’t had bought these items if I had known,” Green said. “I feel some type of way about that. I come in this Walmart almost every single day.
“It’s over. I won’t be returning. They should had told us before entering.”
Work Continues
Thomas Breen Photo
Health Director Bond: City’s done waiting for results.
Employees approached at the store said they’d had no idea that their employer had been allegedly violated health safety regulations.
Employee Adjoa “Monday” Ofosu-Adu said she spends the entirety of her 8 a.m.-5 p.m. shift disinfecting the shopping carts for customers with a disinfectant spray and wipes before entering the store.
“If the customer tells me that they don’t want their cart sprayed, then you go inside and we have sanitizer,” Ofosu-Adu said.
In her statement to the press, Health Director Bond said she is “confident that the store managers at Wal-Mart will implement the needed measures to address the violations. The Health Department stands ready to work with this establishment. But if they will not take action and make the needed changes to keep our residents and their own staff and customers safe, then we will.”
Threatening letters and I'm sure a harsh phone call for not kissing her ring had to be done - but now, the corrective action plan. This is nothing but paperwork BS. We need every open business we can right now - in part for tax revenue and in part for the many jobs this company provides. Most employees on the low skill end of employment. But then again, since when did Bond or Elicker care about those folks. Return to Phase 3. This chokehold and power grab has to stop.