Wonderpark shopping centre staffers test positive for Covid-19
More than 20 people working at various stores in the shopping centre tested positive for the virus in the past week.
Several people employed at various stores in the Wonderpark shopping centre, north of Pretoria, remained in isolation after they tested positive for Covid-19.
The latest was a staff member at the Game store earlier this week.
“A staff member tested positive on 15 June,” according to Game spokesperson Michelle Kemp.
The store was reopened the following day after “deep cleaning”.
“Following the cleaning and sanitising, as well as inspections by the Department of Health, we can confirm that the store reopened on 16 June,” she said.
Kemp reassured shoppers their health and safety remained “a top priority”.
“We continue to monitor the health of team members and continuously implement new measures to ensure safety in our stores for both staff and customers,” she said.
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Over the weekend, the Dis-Chem store in the centre also reopened its doors after 16 of its staff members tested positive for the virus.
“When the store closed on Saturday, 13 June, we completed full professional decontamination and sanitisation of the store, which was re-opened on Sunday, 14 June,” Dis-Chem spokesperson Collette McRobert said.
“We have ensured that the risk of infection has a limited transmission to anyone else, thanks to the rigorous preventative health and safety protocols we implemented.”
McRobert said the protocols included daily temperature checks, social distancing, using masks, deep cleaning of the whole store – with special attention to high-touch areas – sanitiser and protective Perspex sheets at their tills.
“We have worked closely with the Department of Health throughout the lockdown.”
“The department has reviewed our protocols and confirmed we are taking appropriate action to contain the spread of the virus,” she said.
Measures also included limiting the number of customers in the store to ensure social distancing and sanitising each trolley before it was used.
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Last week, five Absa bank employees at the centre tested positive for the virus.
They remained in isolation after the branch reopened with a standby team of employees.
“All necessary measures have been undertaken to ensure that those who were in contact with them are tested and remain in precautionary self-quarantine,” said Absa spokesperson Tshiwela Mhlantla said.
The bank’s other staff members were expected to return on 22 June 2020.
“Consistent with government’s health and safety protocols, we are committed to providing the highest level of support to all those impacted – we have a comprehensive support structure managed by a team of specialists,” she said.
Mhlantla added that they had also engaged with provincial health authorities to assist with contact tracing efforts, subjected the branch to deep cleaning and also reported positive cases to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NCID).
“All of our branches and offices have been subjected to increased hygiene regiments, regular sanitising and social distancing protocols,” she said.
She added they were closely monitoring the situation and would keep employees informed of any changes.
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Wonderpark shopping centre management would respond at a later stage, said spokesperson Elizma Mouton.
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