Oxford Freshmarket temporarily close its doors after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19.

Brett Latimer, co-owner of Oxford Freshmarket on the Bluff took an immediate decision to temporarily close its doors after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19. This was a precautionary measure taken to ensure the safety of staff and customers.

In the interim, they have deep-cleaned and sanitised the entire store using foggers which are not harmful to any of the foodstuffs. Latimer said that they will continue to do everything in their power to ensure the safety of their customers and staff, and are continuously sanitising their shopping trolleys, and work areas. Staff wear face shields and continuously sanitise their work areas and hands each time they serve a customer. They are doing their best to ensure that staff, sanitise and deep-clean on a daily basis.

According to Latimer, the particular staff member’s Supervisor identified that the staff member appeared to have a cold and Management immediately sent her to Wentworth Hospital to get tested for Corona. Unfortunately, before the results were released to Oxford, a message was circulated, via whatsapp to the community, from one of the nurses who treated confirming that she had tested positive.

Latimer said that they immediately reported it to the necessary authorities and had arranged for all staff members at the Bluff store to be tested on the 23rd April by a private laboratory, at the expense of the Company, in order to escalate the process and put our staff’s mind at ease.

We are collaborating with the CDC, Laboratory Nurses and the private testing company to ensure that the correct protocols are being followed,” Latimer said.

The CDC has advised that if any customer who shopped at Oxford Freshmarket Bluff between 5 April and 19 April 2020 develops flu like symptoms, they should contact the Corona Virus Hotline on 0800 029 999.