Lifestyle SuperSpar deep cleans and Checkers reopens

Checkers at the Ballito Junction Regional Mall reopened its doors this week after shutting down last Tuesday when an employee tested positive for coronavirus.

The Shoprite Group confirmed that the Health Department and National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) had been informed and the store had immediately been closed.

Ballito Junction CEO, Geraldine Jorgensen said all store personnel had undergone testing last Wednesday.

“The necessary health guidelines as laid out by the National Department of Health and NICD have been followed,” said Jorgensen.

It is understood that the employee remains in self-isolation and was part of Checkers’ back-of-house receiving team.

ALSO READ: Ballito Village Spar employee tests positive for coronavirus

The store has since undergone professional decontamination.

“We will advise the results of the testing as soon as this information is available. We are sure you join us in sending very best wishes to all our Checkers staff as well as to the health officials undertaking the virus testing,” said Jorgensen.

Meanwhile, another Ballito supermarket has implemented deep cleaning, staff testing and separating of shift workers.

Lifestyle SuperSpar has split its staff complement and implemented shifts whereby each shift will operate as a unit and have no overlap with any other shift.

This will significantly limit interaction among staff in an attempt to better contain any potential exposure to the virus.

According to said store manager, Brad Buchanan, two separate teams will manage store operations during the day, while the night shift team will continue to operate through the night to merchandise, clean and prepare the store for the next day’s trade.

There will be no interaction or overlap amongst any of the three teams.

ALSO READ: Tiffany’s SuperSpar closes after employee tests positive for coronavirus

“Our goal has always been to provide exceptional customer service and we are trying our utmost to accomplish that, firstly, within the requirements and challenges of the lockdown and, secondly, while trying to keep the store as safe, healthy and clean as possible for all our staff and customers.”

“We do acknowledge that this step will come with its own challenges and we ask our customers to bear with us as we find our feet. We thank the Ballito community for their support to date,” said Buchanan.

* Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news

Dear reader,

As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments.

As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed.

Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol.

A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.

Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).

Do you want to receive news alerts from The North Coast Courier via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 061 718 4438.