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‘Deep clean’ in Arndale shop after staff member tests positive for coronavirus
The store has been cleaned.
An Arndale store staff member has tested positive for coronavirus, causing a ‘deep clean’ of the shop.
The news first broke last Friday that a staff member from a store inside the Arndale shopping centre tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday last week.
The company shared an internal message with all workers on Friday evening, which explained that a deep clean will be taking place in the unnamed store as well as common areas, touch points and surfaces the person may have been in contact with.
The individual is now isolating and those who can work from home are being urged to do so.
The statement from Manchester Arndale centre director David Allinson said: “We are aware of the case of COVID-19 at one of our stores, and have worked closely with the team to help them deliver their processes in line with government guidelines to protect customers and staff.
“As part of their protocol, the store closed temporarily to undergo a deep clean and all of the staff are being tested through the official NHS test and trace system. We have informed our occupiers and staff separately to reassure them of the correct and swift delivery of our own procedures throughout this difficult time.”
The message, titled ‘CONFIRMED CORONAVIRUS CASE IN THE SHOPPING CENTRE’, sent to staff read: “The health and well-being of our occupiers is always a key priority.
“We have been informed that there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the shopping centre. The confirmed case is a staff member of a retailer, who to our knowledge was diagnosed on Wednesday 5 August 2020 and we understand that the person is now in isolation. Prior to being diagnosed, we understand that the person was working on the premises on Tuesday 4 August 2020.
“Please be assured the retailer concerned has now sanitised their working area. We have ensured that all common areas, touch points and surfaces within any immediate area which were potentially in contact with the person including mall areas, passenger lifts, toilets and back of house areas have also been sanitised in accordance with PHE and WHO guidelines.
“As an added precaution, over and above current Business Continuity Planning (BCP) working arrangements, we are encouraging all staff members who are able to work from home to do so with immediate effect until further notice, in line with recent Government instructions.
“Please remain vigilant during this period, seek immediate medical attention if you feel unwell and avoid crowds if possible. As always, employee health and welfare is a key priority, so we seek your kind cooperation to comply with all BCP directives issued at this time or at a future date. We are constantly monitoring the situation and will provide timely updates.”
Commuters could be facing the steepest rise in the cost of train travel in more than a decade just months after prices were already increased.
It has been predicted today that train prices across England and Wales could rise by nearly 5% before the New Year.
The 2021 rise in prices was delayed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic when train travel was at an all-time low, however, tickets still saw a price rise of 2.6% in March.
Abhijit Tembhekar / Flickr
And this morning, the Retail Prices Index for July 2021 was confirmed as 3.8% by the Office for National Statistics, meaning passengers could see fares rise by 4.8% in 2022, which would be the largest hike since 2012.
This means that the cost of rail travel could increase twice within ten months, and would see a Manchester-Glasgow off-peak return rise by £6.30 to £94.90, according to Metro.
Though all hope isn’t yet gone – changes to the fares in 2022 are still yet to be confirmed.
Jon David Houghton / Wikimedia Commons
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “No decision has been made on national rail fares.
“The government is considering a variety of options and we will announce our decision in due course.”
This news has come as train travel in Manchester and beyond is on the rise – earlier this month, we reported that zero cases of Covid were found in Manchester Piccadilly Train Station, despite thousands of commuters using the station’s services as offices reopen.
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