All co-ops in which COVID-19 cases were discovered sterilized – official
KUWAIT CITY, April 21: The assistant undersecretary of Ministry of Social Affairs for Planning and Development, acting assistant undersecretary for the cooperative sector, Salem Al-Rashidi, affirmed that all cooperative societies in which coronavirus cases were discovered have been sterilized upon testing all employees in the various cooperative societies in coordination with the Ministry of Health within the context of the ministry’s keenness to follow up all developments in the cooperative societies, reports AlSeyassah daily.
In a statement to the daily, Al-Rashidi indicated the ministry through inspection teams followed procedures at the cooperative societies by which cases of coronavirus infections were discovered, as some cooperative societies’ employees were not at their work stations at the time when the suspicion of infection was reported, whereas measures were taken with regard to infected cases and those coming into contact with them.
It is noteworthy the cases of infection among some workers of five cooperative societies were in Al-Surra, Al-Ardiya and Al-Dasma cooperative branch, as well as the Vegetables and Fruits Branch in Al-Rawda and Ishbiliya.
Despite the “sterilization and organization” campaigns carried out by the cooperative societies, four employees ended up testing positive, prompting daily medical tests for other employees and ensuring that proper precautionary measures are taken to contain the spread.
In his role, head of the Union of Consumer Co-operative Societies, Meshaal
Al-Sayyar affirmed that the union is following up all cooperative societies where the cases of coronavirus have been confirmed, and the union is keen on ensuring that precautionary measures are adhered to properly.
Al-Sayyar told the daily that the union is keen on the health and safety of its customers, as there is an integrated coordination with the Ministry of Health to sterilize the places where infections were discovered and to reopen supermarkets that were closed after cases of infection were confirmed there.
“The supermarkets that reported the discovery of coronavirus infection among their employees, including Surra Cooperative Society, and confirmed in a statement the closure of “Branch 2” by health authorities in this regard, will be reopened after the sterilization and medical testing of its employees are conducted”, he noted.
In the same context, the Ishbiliya Cooperative Society announced that due to the confirmation of one of its employees in the main supermarket of having corona infection, the supermarket was closed down for sterilization, bearing in mind that the branches of this supermarket are still open.
Also, Rawda and Hawally Cooperative Society explained that one of the suspected cases tested positive, prompting the closure of the grocery branch of the supermarket for sterilization to ensure that all precautionary measures are in place for the safety of the public.
On the other hand, Al-Ardiya Cooperative Society indicated the market was closed for sterilization from Sunday evening until Monday, after cases of coronavirus infection were detected among its employees, affirming the cooperative society adheres to the precautionary health measures to contain the spread of the virus, and that all reported cases were dealt with as per Ministry of Health guidelines.