Coronavirus: Quincy Walmart Closes After Employee Dies

QUINCY, MA — The Walmart at Granite Crossing in Quincy has been closed "until further notice" after an employee died from coronavirus-related causes, and eight other employees tested positive for the disease.

Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch announced Monday afternoon that the store was closed at 3:30 p.m. and the city "certainly express our sympathy to (the employee) and her family."

Koch said Health Commission Ruth Jones was monitoring cases at the store and that Walmart's corporate offices decided to close the store on Monday.

"They made a decision on their own to close down, go through the whole facility, clean it once again, and test all employees to see what other positive cases they may have," Koch said. "Until further notice, the Walmart is shut down and the health commissioner is fully in support of that decision."

The Walmart on Boland Way in Worcester closed down last week after 23 positive cases at the store. That store will only be allowed to reopen after a deep cleaning, and after all approximately 400 employees at the store have been tested for coronavirus. City officials have been in touch with the Walmart corporate office to get testing in place.

Koch said there have been 585 positive cases and eight deaths in the city over the past two months. He said the average age of the positive cases is 57, with the average age of those who have died 81. He said 30 percent of those who have died in the city have been in nursing homes.

Related Patch Coverage: Worcester Closes Walmart After 23 People Get Coronavirus

Worcester Walmart Coronavirus Outbreak: 275 Workers Tested