Company representatives confirmed a staff member at the Chippewa Township market tested positive for the coronavirus this week.

CHIPPEWA TWP. — An employee at a Beaver County Giant Eagle has tested positive for COVID-19.

Company representatives confirmed a staff member at the Chippewa Township market at 2650 Constitution Blvd. tested positive for the coronavirus this week. The employee last worked on March 30 and has been quarantined since.

It’s the first confirmed case at a Beaver County Giant Eagle, but company representatives said employees at supermarkets in New Kensington, North Huntington and Pine townships, and Altoona, along with a GetGo in Ohio also have tested positive.

Giant Eagle announced this week plans to limit the number of customers allowed to shop in-store at one time to help protect shoppers and staff from COVID-19 exposure.

Each location will admit up to 50 percent of occupancy allowable by fire code, the company announced Monday, including employees. The move comes as several Giant Eagle employees, considered essential workers under government orders, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in recent days. The occupancy restrictions won’t apply to Giant Eagle’s Get-Go convenience stores.

The new maximum occupancy will be visibly posted near the building’s entrance, and the company will dedicate employees to monitor guests’ social distancing and provide guidance when necessary.

In recent weeks, Giant Eagle has implemented protocols in line with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, including installing protective Plexiglas and social distancing floor indicators and discontinuing all self-service food stations.

Representatives said Giant Eagle also would begin supplying personal protective equipment like masks and gloves to employees concerned for their health and safety.

To mitigate the virus’ spread, Giant Eagle is asking customers to use curbside pickup and delivery services whenever possible, send only one household member to shop, wear masks and gloves while shopping, adhere to social distancing protocols and use self-checkout.

The state department of health reported 18,228 positive cases of coronavirus statewide on Thursday, including 1,989 new cases from Wednesday.