Dis-Chem confirms two more positive Covid-19 cases at their Retail Park store

Two more employees have tested positive for Covid-19 at the Dis-Chem branch located at Retail Park in Boksburg.

According to sources at the store, workers were tested after the reported first case of Covid-19 at the store and they have been individually receiving their results this week, with others still anxiously waiting for theirs.

The sources also raised their concerns, accusing management of not taking measures appropriate to the current situation at the store.

The sources claim some of the employees who were tested after the first case were not asked to isolate at home while awaiting their results, instead they continued working until their results came back this week.

“This is very concerning if you think about the number of customers our colleagues have come into contact with during this period. Without wearing masks, people continued to work like there was nothing wrong and the shop operated as usual. Why were people not asked to at least stay at home while awaiting their results? Only now that more people have tested positive they decided to give staff masks,” said the source.

Three Covid-19 cases confirmed

This publication has sent Dis-Chem an email with a list of questions regarding the situation at its branch.

The company supplied the following answers:

Q: Is it true that more staff members have tested positive for the virus?

A: Yes, two staff members have tested positive, bringing the total to three.

Q: Apparently those who have now tested positive were working without wearing masks to protect against coronavirus and had not been asked to isolate at home while awaiting their results. Is that true? If yes, then why were they not asked to self-isolate at home?

A: The staff members in question did not show any symptoms and no complaints were received from employees.

Q: How are you going to assist officials in tracing the customers who may have come into contact with your staff who tested positive?

A: Dis-Chem’s national clinic manager is working closely with local authorities and the NICD was informed immediately.

Q: Will the store remain open?

A: Yes, at this stage.

Q: What’s the way forward?

A: Dis-Chem will 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 company, however, declined to confirm the positions occupied by the staff members at the store, citing patient confidentiality.

One of the sources, however, told this publication that due to the nature of the positions the three workers occupy, they have come into contact with many customers while awaiting their results.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.

Previously, Dis-Chem issued a statement saying one of its members of staff at Retail Park had tested positive for the virus.

Also Read: Another employee at Retail Park tests positive for Covid-19

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