Pick n Pay Montana closes after staffer tests positive for Covid-19
“As a precaution, store staff who were not in close contact with the staff member have been screened by health practitioners.”
The Pick n Pay Montana Hypermarket at the Kolonnade retail park in the north of Pretoria has temporarily closed its doors, after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday.
“The staff member’s close contacts were immediately traced and they were sent home to self-quarantine for the required period,” said Pick n Pay spokesperson Janine Caradonna.
“As a precaution, the rest of the store staff who were not in close contact with the staff member have been screened by health practitioners.”
Caradonna said a specialist cleaning team had deep cleaned and sanitised the store.
“We are liaising closely with the health authorities and will reopen the store soon,” she said.
Another staff member tested positive on 21 May, but Caradonna said the member had not been at work since 10 May.
As a result, and in accordance with the health department, it was not necessary to close the store.
“The health and safety of our customers and staff are our top priority.”
She said their stores were being cleaned more rigorously, including sanitising all till points after each transaction, and sanitising trolleys frequently.
Various preventative measures, including transparent Perspex screens at all till points and providing all staff with face masks have been implemented.
“Our staff follow strict hygiene rules and practices, including regular handwashing, and hand sanitiser is readily available for all staff and customers in stores,” she said.
“All stores have clear distancing policies which include floor markers and asking customers to queue and shop with a trolley so that safe physical distancing can be maintained at all times. Our staff are screened for symptoms before they start work.”
She said in line with National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) guidelines, when Pick n Pay got a positive case, they identify the person’s close contacts (people with whom they have had close face-to-face contact within one metre) or were in a closed space for more than 15 minutes in the days before they had symptoms or tested positive.
The people are then asked to self-isolate.
“Customers should not be concerned because they are very unlikely to be close contacts,” she said.
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