Dis-Chem has confirmed that 24 employees at its branch at the Retail Park in North Rand Road, Boksburg, tested positive for coronavirus by Friday afternoon, April 17.
Dis-Chem national clinic manager Lizeth Kruger said when Dis-Chem became aware of the first positive diagnosis, it took the precaution of testing the entire staff complement and deep-cleaning the Retail Park store.
Responding to a question by the Advertiser as to what the pharmacy group is doing to protect its staff and customers, at the most affected branch in particular, Kruger said when two additional staff members tested positive, the store was closed and deep cleaned again.
“All staff were tested again on April 16, and a decision was taken to deep clean again and re-open with a totally new staff complement.
“The decision to repeat-test staff was not a Department of Health requirement, but Dis-Chem voluntarily undertook this step as an additional precaution to ensure the health of all staff,” said Kruger.
When asked what the company suspects is the source of the infections, Kruger said: “There is no definitive answer to this. We are providing essential services and our staff are exposed to customers on a daily basis.”
A concerned source at the branch in question pointed out that the number may increase as other employees are still awaiting their results.
“It’s a scary situation, but to me it seems as if Dis-Chem is not coming clean about how bad the situation is.
“And to make matters worse, those infected are not getting any support from their employer.
“People continued working while waiting for their results and after your results come back positive, they want you to immediately leave their shop. They just advise that you need to continuously take vitamin supplements, which they are not even providing,” lamented the source.
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Another source, a prominent community leader who asked to remain anonymous, suggested that the store be closed and reopen at least after the lockdown.
In a previously statement issued on behalf of Dis-Chem on Thursday, April 16, Kruger said the branch in question had a total of three confirmed cases, adding that the staff members in question did not show any symptoms and no complaints were received from employees.
Kruger, however, stated that Dis-Chem would keep screening its employees for any possible signs and symptoms. The entire store will be deep-cleaned twice a day and masks will be provided to all employees. The store remains opened at this stage.
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