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The McDonald’s outlet is a large restaurant at a busy crossroads on the city’s Mountain, at the corner of Rymal Road East and Upper James St.

The restaurant’s closure and the spectre of COVID-19 contagion amid a deadly global pandemic created fear among customers, employees and the wider community.

“The magnitude of this and the impact it had on the public and on the business, it needed to have police attention,” Edwards said.

Police were alerted by Hamilton Public Health Services on Monday that the employee had created a false physician’s note containing fraudulent information about testing positive for COVID-19, Edwards said.

The woman was arrested Thursday and charged with mischief over $5,000, fraud under $5,000, using a forged document and making a forged document. She was released with an undertaking and is expected to appear in court in May.

“Hamilton police continue to investigate crime whether it is created as a result of the pandemic situation or not. It doesn’t change. We have our job to do,” Edwards said.

A manager at the store declined to comment on the incident.

Hamilton police continue to investigate crime whether it is created as a result of the pandemic situation or not

A McDonald’s Canada spokesperson said the company has cooperated with police and health authorities.

“We take these allegations seriously. When the fraud was confirmed by the Hamilton Police Service, our team offered full cooperation. We maintain that closing the restaurant was the right thing to do to protect the health and well-being of our people, our guests, and our community,” said Ryma Boussoufa.

Hamilton Public Health was not available for comment prior to deadline.

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