Calgary flyer distribution facility hit by COVID-19 outbreak

A COVID-19 outbreak has been confirmed at Flyer Force distribution centre in northeast Calgary.

A number of employees have contracted the virus, prompting Postmedia to suspend the day shift since May 6, company spokeswoman Phyllise Gelfand said. Work is otherwise continuing at the site.

The Flyer Force facility, at 932 72nd Ave. N.E., inserts advertising material into the Calgary Sun and Calgary Herald newspapers.

Its employees are supplied by the agency Active Staffing.

“Postmedia has undertaken complete cleaning and sanitization of the facility,” said Gelfand. “Night shift workers are provided with hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, face shields and gloves, and sanitization and social distancing protocols are in place.”

Employee tracing has begun to determine the origin of the infections.

Flyer Force is listed by Alberta Health as one of 34 sites in the Calgary zone hit by outbreaks, with the majority at long-term care or supported-living residences.

Infectious disease experts say the chance of COVID -19 spreading to humans from paper is extremely low because the virus that causes the disease has a very short life span on porous material.

There are no known instances of people contracting the virus from paper, and it survives much longer on more solid surfaces such as metal or plastic.

Even so, those who read newspapers or flyers are advised to wash their hands after handling them.

Calgary continues to be the epicentre of COVID-19 cases in the province, with about 70 per cent of known infections occurring in and around the city.