Tesco shuts superstore in Manchester due to staff Covid outbreak as one employee dies

Tesco shuts superstore in Manchester due to staff Covid outbreak as one employee dies

  • Tesco Extra on Chester Road in Stretford was closed Saturday amid outbreak
  • An employee has died, though Tesco would not confirm if it was covid-related
  • Meanwhile up to 50 staff have been infected by the disease, sources revealed 
  • Comes amid 35 percent spike in infection rate in the Trafford area of Manchester
  • Do YOU know anyone at the Stretford store? Email [email protected] 

A Tesco superstore in Manchester has been struck by a Covid outbreak which has infected 50 staff.

An employee at the Tesco Extra on Chester Road in Stretford has also died, although the supermarket would not confirm whether this was as a result of the outbreak ‘out of respect for the family.’ 

The store was shut today after dozens of staff were forced to self-isolate, with sources saying that up to 50 are off work.

It comes amid a massive spike in infections in the Trafford area, up by 35 percent in the week ending January 8, compared to a 12 percent rise across the rest of England. 

A Tesco superstore in Old Trafford has been hit with an outbreak of Covid-19

An employee at the Tesco Extra on Chester Road in Stretford has also died, although the supermarket would not confirm whether this was as a result of the outbreak 'out of respect for the family.'

An employee at the Tesco Extra on Chester Road in Stretford has also died, although the supermarket would not confirm whether this was as a result of the outbreak ‘out of respect for the family.’

Tesco said that ‘extensive measures’ had been taken to limit the spread of the virus at the Manchester shop, including social-distancing signage and limits on the number of shoppers allowed inside at one time. 

Boris Johnson yesterday warned that supermarkets were an ideal breeding ground for the deadly virus, as people pick up items and stand in confined places. 

‘Please remember that this disease can be passed on not just by standing too near to someone in a supermarket queue, but also by handling something touched by an infected person,’ the Prime Minister said on Friday.

‘Remember also that one in three people with Covid-19 have no symptoms and that’s why the original message of hands, face, space is as important now as it has ever been.’

Government guidance says shoppers should ‘try to only touch what you are going to buy.’  

It comes as Britain is plagued by a new strain of the disease which has led to more infections and record numbers of deaths in the last week.

More than 12,700 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Greater Manchester in the week ending January 8.

The infection rate for England over this period increased by 12 percent, while in Trafford – where the Tesco store is – the rate was up by 35 percent. 

It comes amid a massive spike in infections in the local area, up by 35 percent in the week ending January 8, compared to a 12 percent rise across the rest of England.

It comes amid a massive spike in infections in the local area, up by 35 percent in the week ending January 8, compared to a 12 percent rise across the rest of England.

A Tesco spokesman said: ‘A number of colleagues at our Stretford store are off work due to self-isolation, test and trace or Covid-19.

‘The safety of our colleagues and customers is our number one priority and we are following all Government guidance, working closely with Public Health authorities and taking all the relevant precautions.

‘We have extensive measures across all of our stores to help keep everyone safe, including limits on the number of customers in store, a “traffic light” system in many stores, social distancing signage, colleagues at store entrances to help with safety measures, sanitising stations, protective screens around checkouts, and face coverings and other protective equipment for colleagues.

‘We are deeply saddened by the loss of a colleague at our Stretford store and we’re supporting our colleagues at this difficult time.’