There may be some connection between a Canada Post retirement party held at a Mississauga facility and a subsequent COVID-19 outbreak that caused dozens of employees to have to self-isolate.

A portion of the Gateway West location near Eglinton Ave. E. and Dixie Road was shut down by local health authorities just over a week ago, as per new guidelines for workplace outbreaks, after 12 staffers were diagnosed over the course of the preceding seven days.

Approximately 90 workers from the facility's Exchange Office were sent home as a result.

Canada Post workers have the best of the best paid sick pay, and yet, "hundreds & hundreds" of cases & lots of Staff Parties too.

I thought 2 weeks of paid sick days was the cure to outbreaks. As it turns out, keeping your distance, wearing masks & washing hands is best practice https://t.co/IMIbzWxGLY

— realNickKouvalis (@NickKouvalis) May 6, 2021

Though outbreaks in workplaces that remain open amid lockdown have been unfortunately common, it has now been revealed that staff hosted a social gathering in the facility on April 9.

At least 13 people, some masked and some unmasked, were photographed at the retirement party, which one attendee told Global News on Wednesday is just one of multiple health and safety violations that management has turned "a blind eye" to during the health crisis.

The entire province is, of course, under a full shutdown and stay-at-home order during which private indoor gatherings are completely banned, and outdoor gatherings are limited to only those who live in the same household.

And all they get for discipline is a tongue wagging? Businesses going broke, kids suffering, no schools open, icu's plugged. Medical staff on overload.. ..and they pull off this stunt!
And they get a little slap on the wrist!

— Owen Littlefield (@OwenLittlefield) May 6, 2021

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie spoke about the incident during a press conference yesterday, expressing her disappointment and calling it "incredibly irresponsible" and "shocking" behaviour.

This notably isn't the first time this location in particular has had an outbreak — one employee actually died from the virus in January after he and 120 of his coworkers came down with COVID-19 due to workplace spread in a separate area of the warehouse.

Canada Post has already had non-party-related outbreaks at facilities before. And if the employer has been so diligent at protecting its workers, how’d they manage to allow an on-site party?

— Tipsy McStagger (@breeganism) May 6, 2021

Peel Public Health is now investigating the gathering, while Canada Post — which has halted mail service to buildings where delivery personnel feel unsafe due to a lack of mask-wearing among tenants — has issued a statement to media calling it "an unfortunate and isolated incident."