Concern over Covid-19 case at Tesco store

Tesco have said it takes the safety of staff and customers seriously - after concerns were raised over an employee testing positive for Covid-19 at their Meadow Lane store in Portadown.
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Workers’ Party representative for Upper Bann Kieran McCausland claimed senior store staff sent a message to other staff via an internal ‘What’s App’ group earlier this month.

Mr McCausland claimed: “They informed staff that they would not disclose who the affected staff member was and unless a staff member is showing symptoms the management expect staff to continue to come to work.

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“This is a totally unacceptable situation that senior management are placing their employees in. They are showing a blatant disregard for the safety and well-being of their employees as well as their customers.

“There is only one logical explanation for this course of action and that is corporate greed at the expense of working class people.

“We would appeal to Tesco management to address this issue in the correct manner.

“Although they have stated that there will be a deep clean of the store, this still falls far short in their duty of care to their staff and customers.”

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When details of the claims were put to Tesco, a spokesperson for the supermarket chain said: “The safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority. We have introduced extensive measures across all of our stores to help keep everyone safe, including protective screens at every checkout, social distancing signage and regular deep cleaning.”

Social distancing measures in place at Tesco stores include:

• a ‘one-in, one-out’ system in stores. Tesco has maintained longer opening hours to minimize potential queuing.  

• floor markings in car parks to help customers to maintain safe distances when queuing and new floor markings in store to help everyone keep a safe distance while waiting to pay.  

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• Hand sanitisers are placed around stores for customers and colleagues to use, as well as extra cleaning products for customers to wipe down their trolley or basket.   

• protective screens at the front and the back, around every checkout, so that all of them can be opened and reduce the time needed to queue.  

• Where possible, Tesco has created separate entrances and exits to stores, so that it’s easier to keep a safe distance from other shoppers. 

• customers who can are encouraged to use card and contactless payment methods.

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