Pick n Pay. File photo.
Pick n Pay has temporarily closed its Musgrave Centre branch in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, following the death of one of its employees on Thursday.
However, the retailer made it clear that the employee did not die of Covid-19 and that the closure was merely a precaution.
“While there is no suggestion at this stage that his sad passing was linked to Covid-19, we are, as a precaution, deep cleaning and sanitising the entire store,” Pick n Pay said in a statement.
The retailer added that the store would be opened for business again on Friday.
“We have also initiated our protocol and will trace his close contacts to self-quarantine until we have more clarity,” Pick n Pay said.
On 12 April, the Pick n Pay in Waterstone Village in Somerset West was temporarily closed after a staffer tested positive for Covid-19.
“One of our staff was sent home on Thursday after reporting that she was not feeling well,” the retailer said in a statement at the time.
“She has subsequently tested positive for coronavirus.”
The company moved swiftly to trace her close contacts and asked them to self-isolate.
At least 20 employees at the Checkers store in Bayside Mall in Table View, Cape Town tested positive for Covid-19, News24 reported on Wednesday.
Netwerk24 also reported that several other workers were tested for the virus last week but were still awaiting their results.
Two women, a 30-year-old and a 51-year-old, who reportedly worked at the store, died after contracting the virus.
Pharmacy group Dis-Chem has also had to temporarily close some of its branches after staff members tested positive.
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