Menai Marketplace staff member contracts COVID-19
A Sutherland Shire homewares store has reopened only hours after it was closed for cleaning when a staff member tested positive to coronavirus, prompting an alert to customers of the store to monitor for symptoms.
St George Shire Standard
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A Bed Bath N’Table store where a staff member tested positive for coronavirus has reopened for business – just 24 hours after local shoppers were informed and staff were ordered into quarantine.
An employee at the Menai Marketplace store tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday after last working a shift at the store in on the evening of Thursday, March 18.
Menai Marketplace manager Jacqui Bell advised the store was closed on Tuesday but it was staffed and open for trade on Wednesday.
A male staff manager could be seen using hand sanitiser while standing at the counter.
“The staff member was working from 8.45am to 3.15pm on Thursday, March 19, however the affected team member’s treating doctor has advised that they were not contagious during this time,” Ms Bell wrote.
“All staff who were in contact with the affected team member have been ordered to self-isolate at home for 14 days.”
However, questions about whether the cleaning and quarantine measures sufficiently addressed any exposure which could have occurred prior to the employee’s diagnosis were addressed in just a brief statement from the local health district.
“Locations where COVID-19 cases live, work or have visited, in this case the Menai Marketplace Shopping Centre, do not pose any ongoing risk to the public,” a South East Sydney Local Health District spokeswoman said.
“Publishing private details, such as the location of individuals diagnosed with COVID-19, is a breach of patient privacy and serves no public health benefit.”
A spokesman for Lendlease, which operates Menai Marketplace, said safety was their “number one priority”.
“We’re working in accordance with Australian Government Health Department COVID-19 cleaning and disinfection guidelines,” the spokesman said.
“The store in which the staff member worked has undergone a deep clean and has reopened, and a deep clean of all common areas at Menai Marketplace has taken place.”
The spokesman said this was in addition to significantly increased cleaning, the use of hospital-grade disinfectant and hand sanitiser stations installed around the centre.
Most stores remained open at Menai Marketplace today, except for a children’s play area and Rockmans which will now be closed until further notice.
Many non-essential stores including Sussans will not be open on Sundays for the foreseeable future.
The food court was mostly deserted in line with new government restrictions, except for some fast food takeaway restaurants which remained operational.
Ms Bell urged anyone concerned about personal risk or showing symptoms to call the Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and stand ready to take any additional steps needed to help keep everyone safe.”
More to come.