Woolworth to close West Footscray warehouse after new COVID cases

Woolworths says Melbourne deliveries will be unaffected despite the closure of a key delivery warehouse after more staff test positive.

Woolworths says the closure of its West Footscray facility in Melbourne will no affect deliveries in the locked-down Victorian capital. Picture: Nikki Short

Woolworths will close its entire West Footscray Customer Fulfilment Centre in Melbourne after two more workers at the site tested positive for COVID-19.

These cases come after a supervisor who last worked at the site on Wednesday last week tested positive to COVID-19.

“As a precautionary measure we have made the decision to temporarily close the site so we can undertake testing of all team members,” a Woolworths spokesman said.

“We have also asked our team to self-isolate while they wait for their results.”

Almost 800 staff work at the West Footscray site, but its temporary closures is not expected affect online orders.

Almost one in five Woolworth’s online orders were cancelled in Melbourne on Monday after some staff were asked to self isolate after the first COVID-19 case.

On Tuesday 5 per cent of Victorian orders were cancelled as a result of continued disruptions caused by staff shortages.

“To ensure we continue to fulfil the online orders usually serviced at West Footscray CFC, we have increased our delivery capacity out of our supermarket network,” a Woolworths spokesman said.

“All scheduled online delivery orders are going out today as planned.”

The West Footscray site will be again cleaned, following deep cleans on both Sunday and Saturday night.

In recent days Woolworths has introduced nurses into its stores and warehouses to check staff temperatures. Any staff that arrive at work with high temperatures are asked to return home with full pay for that shift.

The news comes after Coles and Woolworths reintroduced purchasing limits across Victorian stores only a day after removing them.

Panic buying shoppers cleared shelves across Melbourne on Tuesday before the supermarkets sprung into action on Wednesday morning.

The supermarkets had warned on Monday they would not hesitate to reimpose restrictions if shoppers again panic bought products.

Coles said it was not taking staff temperatures but has nurses on call available 24/7 for its staff and will follow all federal and state health advice. 

ALDI, which currently has no purchasing restrictions in place, is not checking staff temperatures but is following all health guidelines to ensure safety in its stores and warehouses.

The supermarket has reportedly avoided the worst of panic buying by shrinking the range of items stocked and scaling up production of products in high demand.