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Health officials investigate California Burger King worker's death

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July 17, 2020

Health officials are investigating the circumstances around the illness and death of a Santa Monica Burger King employee who died after her co-workers say she exhibited coronavirus symptoms for a week on the job. Co-workers asserted that her managers allegedly disregarded the situation, according to ABC-News.

News of the death of Burger King worker, Angela Martinez Gomez, has also erupted on social media and elsewhere, contributing to protests about restaurant COVID-19 employee protections this week by fast food workers in California andIllinois.

Illinois and California QSR workers also filed official complaints with city officials over the same subject. The situation involving Gomez, who was transgender, occurred when she died July 6 after co-workers and advocacy groups said she worked an entire week with coronavirus symptoms, which they allege managers attributed to side effects from Gomez' hormone injections.

At the California office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a spokesperson told ABC-News the organization was investigated though she declined to provide details.

"Last week Cal/OSHA was notified of a fatality involving a worker of Burger King in Santa Monica," Cal/OSHA told ABC News in a statement Wednesday. "This is all the information available at this time. Cal/OSHA is investigating and until the time that the investigation is complete, the case is open and confidential."

ABC reported that the complaint by the stores workers allege "Burger King has kept us in the dark and our lives and our families are at risk. Burger King has not told us there are COVID-19 cases or suspected cases at the store and they are not being honest about what happened with Angela and Mariela."

Gomez' family said they are still awaiting the official cause of death from the area's medical examiner. Workers for the chain want authorities to close the store and deep-clean the premises, and they want paid leave during any closures.
Burger King said that it would investigate the matter and allegations of store management's use of negative language around Gomez transgender status.

"Burger King restaurants follow rigorous precautions to keep team members and guests safe at all times," the company said in a statement to ABC-News. "There has been no news or confirmation that Angela's tragic death was associated with COVID-19. No symptoms were reported by the team at that location."