Popular supermarket alleged to be covering up Covid-19 cases

 

A supermarket worker has accused the company of keeping branches open despite infections among the staff. (Freepik pic)

PETALING JAYA: A worker at a popular supermarket in the Klang Valley has accused the company of covering up Covid-19 cases in several branches and of not closing or sanitising those outlets.

Speaking to FMT on condition of anonymity, the worker said there was an outbreak of about 80 cases at one outlet in mid-July, and later more than doubled to 200 with staff from other branches being assigned to help there.

The outlet was closed for two days, but the branch was not sanitised, he said.

Workers from other outlets were assigned to help out when it reopened hastily, and his own branch was also asked to send staff but he refused to go.

The number of infections soared to 200, with some of his own colleagues contracting Covid-19

He said he then self-quarantined for about a week and went back to work on July 16 after testing negative.

“When I went back to work, I was told that a lot of people had already contracted Covid-19, but nothing was being said by the management. For some reason, everyone was keeping quiet about it,” he told FMT.

He then started to develop symptoms and soon, his worst fears were confirmed: he was Covid-19 positive. When speaking to FMT, he had just checked into a low-risk quarantine centre.

“But after I tested positive, they didn’t close our outlet. I sent in my test results to the manager and they’re still open,” he said.

He said there had been infections at several other branches in the past one-and-a-half years but the branches had stayed open.

He accused the supermarket of ignoring complaints and of failing to offer sufficient protection for staff. He said employees ended up buying their own face masks and gloves for use at work.

FMT has reached out to the supermarket and is withholding its name pending their comment. - FMT