News

Wildberries Marketplace in Arcata is advising customers that one of its employees has tested positive for COVID-19.

"We were immediately in contact with the Humboldt County Department of health and are following all recommended guidelines from the CDC," reads a post to the store's Facebook page. "As a response to protect the health and safety of our workforce and our customers, we are notifying our community members."

The post says the employee had "minimal, if no contact" with customers and is recovering at home on paid leave and won't return until cleared by county public health.

"All staff working in proximity are undergoing interviews from county health contact tracing and are taking appropriate actions as recommended," the post says. "A thorough sanitization of affected workspaces has already taken place and we will be doing an additional full store cleanup — opening one hour late, at 7 a.m. (today)."

Humboldt County has seen 107 people test positive for the disease to date, including four people who have died and 101 who have recovered, meaning they are no longer actively contagious. Two cases remain active.

In comments responding to Wildberries' post, many expressed gratitude for the store's prompt notification of customers.

"Thank you for immediate transparency — truly community spirit!" wrote Terry Uyeki.

See the store's full post to the community copied below.