STATEMENT
11 March 2020
Coles has today identified a single team member at its Waurn Ponds supermarket in Victoria has tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (Department of Health) has confirmed the risk of transmission for customers or team members is very low.
The Coles team member has self-isolated at home since 7 March when they received notification that they had been potentially exposed to COVID-19 on an international flight.
Coles immediately performed an extensive clean of the supermarket in line with recommendations from the Department of Health and will conduct further cleaning overnight as an additional precautionary measure.
As a food retailer, Coles already has very high standards in place for the cleanliness of our stores. We have reinforced current cleaning and hygiene guidelines with all our team members and are following our food safety plans.
The safety of our team members and customers is our number one priority and Coles is working closely with the Department of Health and relevant health authorities to keep up to date with the latest advice.
Coles team members who have come into close contact with the team member have been instructed to self-isolate and seek medical treatment should they display any symptoms.
The Department of Health defines “close contact” as face to face contact for at least 15 minutes, or being in the same closed space for at least 2 hours, with someone who has tested positive for the COVID-19 when that person was infectious.
For more information, please contact the Victorian Department of Health on 1800 675 398 or visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) information website health.gov.au.
For further information, please contact Coles Media Line (03) 9829 5250 or
media.relations@coles.com.au
