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FRANKLIN

An employee of the Franklin Walmart has tested positive for COVID-19.

The Virginia Department of Health informed Franklin’s city government of the new case earlier Wednesday afternoon. This puts the number of COVID cases within city limits at two.

Franklin’s first case, as previously reported, was identified on Monday, March 30. The VDH has since shared that that person is female and in her 20s. No details have been released yet as to the age or gender of the Walmart employee.

According to the city, the Walmart employee is not a Franklin resident, and anyone who has been determined to be at a high risk of exposure from either of the two diagnosed individuals has already been contacted and interviewed by the VDH.

The city is advising Franklin residents to continue to remain calm and practice social distancing, as well as regular hand washing, and to remain home if possible.

Management at the Franklin Walmart was unable to comment on the matter but said Walmart’s media relations office was in the process of preparing and distributing a press release.

Those with questions are asked to call the VDH hotline: 1-877-ASK-VDH.