OK Zimbabwe Closes Shops After Worker Dies From Covid-19
Zimbabwe’s leading retail giant OK Zimbabwe Limited has closed Fife Avenue and Mbuya Nehanda supermarkets after some of its workers tested positive for covid-19.
The retail giant sadly announced that a member of its staff died from the disease.
OK Zimbabwe is not the first retail giant to temporarily close its supermarkets with TM Pick n Pay announcing that it was closing Norton and Kamfinsa branches due to covid-19 cases.
CIMAS, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) are some of the prominent organisations that have had some of their staff testing positive for the novel coronavirus.
Savanna News understands that OK Zimbabwe Limited employees are in fear following the announcement that a colleague had died from covid-19.
The workers are grouped according to their places of residence in the hired staff buses used to transport them to and from work. Because they are not grouped by branch, this has further complicates the issue of contact tracing.
The retail giant released a statement explaining the closure of its two supermarkets as well as the procedure that will culminate in their reopening.
Savanna News publishes the statement below:
ZIMBABWE LIMITED
OK FIFE AVENUE & OK MBUYA NEHANDA – NOTICE OF TEMPORARY CLOSURE
27.July 2020
The company has drawn up a plan to test all staff members for COVID-19 even when there has been no incidence of infection at the different stores or offices During these screening tests. a few of our staff at OK Frfe Avenue were confirmed positive for the virus and have been referred for PCR testing. At OK Mbuya Nehanda. a staff mernber who had other health conditions unfortunately passed on As a precaution. we have closed the store for decontamination and all staff are being tested Both stores will be opened once the health authorities clear us to re-open.
At each of the stores. arrangements are made with outside contracted specialist companies to d.p clean and thoroughly disinfect the premises as a measure to ensure decontamination We have taken these steps to ensure that the health and safety of our employees. service providers a. customers is safeguard.
We take this opportunity to assure all our stakeholders that the situation is under control Thorough hygiene practices continue to be conducted al all our stores. workstations and offices and these facilities are deep cleaned as well as disinfected regularly_ In additon. we have a scheduled prograrn where we are carrying out routine ROT COVID-19 tests of all employees. customers and service providers at each of our store sites
ALL employees, customers and service providers have their body temperatures checked at entry points to our premises, have their hands sanitised and are required to wear face masks correctly at all times
We are working with City Health departments and the Ministry of Health officials for guidance as we follow the required processes and hope to resume the branch operations with minimum delay after full decontamination of the stores