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The next time a violation is reported, the Walmart on Foxon Boulevard in New Haven can be shut down without notice, said the city's Director of Health Maritza Bond in a Wednesday, Nov, 4 letter to the big-box chain.
The hand-delivered letter accused the New Haven Walmart of COVID-19 health code violations including:
- Employees not wearing face masks
- Employees not wearing face masks properly
- Patrons not wearing facemasks
- And being overcapacity.
“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 said in the letter. ”This letter serves as your final warning.”
The New Haven Health Department has received six complaints about Walmart since April, the most recent of which came in on Nov. 2. The department has been informed that a New Haven Walmart employee tested positive for COVID-19.
When the city attempted to conduct contact tracing to stem the spread of the virus, Walmart’s response was delayed, the letter said. The department also said it has received reports that other Walmart employees have tested positive for COVID-19 in previous weeks.
Walmart is in violation of 9 COVID-19 orders, Bond said:
- Failure to ensure that employees are wearing facemasks
- Failure to ensure that employees are wearing facemasks properly
- Failure to ensure patrons follow proper facemask protocols
- Failure to enforce capacity limits
- Failure to follow state testing and contact tracing protocols
- Discrepancies in return to work protocols
- Failure of iPad synchronizing for capacity tracing
- And inadequate training of staff for COVID-19 sector guidelines, the letter said.
The New Haven Department of Health is demanding Walmart provide an action plan to remedy the situation within 72 hours of receipt of the letter. Among the items to be addressed in the action plan are disinfecting protocols, training plans, employee COVID-19 illness reporting protocols, and a corrective action plan relating to the violations.
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