Supermarkets cleaning 'like we've had a covid case'

Thursday, 27 August 2020

Foodstuffs is reassuring customers after it was confirmed a person who later tested positive for Covid-19 visited an Auckland supermarket. (File photo)

Foodstuffs says it is cleaning its stores as if a shopper with Covid-19 has visited every day.

The grocery chain moved to reassure customers after it was confirmed a person who later tested positive for the virus had spent about an hour at a West Auckland supermarket.

Chris Quin, chief executive of Foodstuffs North Island, said the company’s New World, Pak ‘n Save and Four Square supermarkets were being cleaned and sanitised multiple times a day.

“We are essentially running our stores like an undiagnosed Covid-19 case may have shopped with us any day.

Aucklanders are being asked to wear a face covering when outside the home, and the rest of the country is advised to wear one when in a confined public space, like when using public transport or a supermarket.

* Coronavirus: Two West Auckland Countdown stores close for deep cleaning following visits by person with Covid-19

* 'We can cope': Supermarkets prepared for Auckland demand

“I just want to let customers know that we operate as if it could have happened today.”

Quin said supermarkets were normally alerted to cases of Covid-19 that may have generated causal contact five to 10 days after the individual had been in-store.

“[That] means not only has a store’s increased cleaning measures and sanitisation systems occurred multiple times each day since, it has also been closed each night and during that time has seen thorough cleaning and sanitisation as per our Covid cleaning protocols.

“Our focus is on making sure our in-store hygiene protocols are thorough, up to date with best practice and are teams are supported to follow the processes and ensure the highest levels of hygiene and cleaning are in place.”

Keeping staff and customers safe was a priority and Foodstuffs was in constant contact with health authorities, he said.

Countdown spokeswoman Kiri Hannifin said its stores had “incredibly robust” health and safety protocols in place.

They included frequent sanitising and cleaning during the day and again at night, and strict controls on the number of people in-store at any one time.

Stores were also closed down for a deep clean if Countdown was notified a customer with Covid-19 had visited.

“This is our own policy, and we do this as an extra precaution,” Hannifin said.

As well as giving staff and customers extra reassurance, the close-down allowed managers to check in on their team and offer extra care or support if it was needed.