Asda says its staff are doing a ‘fantastic job’ amid Covid fears
AT SUPERMARKET IN THE CITY
ASDA has responded to Covid-19 safety concerns in its Kingswood store after shoppers branded the situation there “a joke”.
The national supermarket chain told the Mail it is following guidelines and its staff are doing a “fantastic job” to protect customer safety.
The statement comes after the Mail investigated just how well customers were complying with social distancing and safety rules during essential shopping trips.
Asda Kingswood stood out for all the wrong reasons, with many shoppers acting like “normal times” with little evidence of customers social distancing.
The report prompted a large response on social media, with many complaining the store is a “free for all”. Asda, though, insists it is following all government guidance in the store.
One Hull resident said “if it’s a choice between Asda or life, then I choose life” as they described their one and only visit to the store during the pandemic.
“During this whole pandemic, I have shopped at many large grocery stores and on one occasion I shopped at Asda Kingswood,” wrote the resident.
“I was very worried, no distancing, people not wearing masks, no queuing system. I just decided to walk out and made the decision never to go back.
“Please people stay away from this store. Money over people’s safety is, in my opinion, their motto.”
Another shopper said
“Asda
Kingswood is the worst for anything to do with Covid safety.”
An Asda spokesperson said: ‘’We have extensive measures in place across all of our stores such as Covid-marshals, protective screens, social distancing signage and numerous hand sanitiser stations.
“Our customers can rest assured that we continue to follow all government guidance as we have since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.’’
But describing the Kingswood store as “horrific”, one customer said that they shop elsewhere now, and feel safer since doing so. “Sanitising stations are in the wrong place and no one is enforcing rules,” he added.
An employee who works at the store even went as far to say that “money comes ahead of everything else, including safety” as they described their fears over working in the store.
She added: “Hundreds or thousands pass near you in a supermarket, we have no strong union or voice for us, we are the forgotten key workers.”
In response to the backlash from customers, Asda said that at no point over the weekend was the store near the capacity allowed for customers to safely social distance.
Asda said a Covid safety marshal was on the door all day from 8am to 8pm, while the store continues to follow all of the guidelines set out by the Government.
The leading supermarket also added that its staff are doing a “fantastic job” of ensuring customers’ safety as well as their own, as they have done throughout the pandemic.
Another concerned Asda shopper said: “Asda does not control numbers into the store, there are no flow system or arrows.
“People just lean in front of you with no respect for your space. Asda has realised that by limiting numbers into the store it is not making enough money.
“As for face masks, I went yesterday and people had them on their chin. Nobody walking around to police the mask situation - the whole shop is a playing field for Covid.”
Another regular shopper felt unsafe they “grabbed a couple essentials and left quickly”.
Speaking of their experience in store, they said: “I went to Asda Kingswood last Sunday, it was awful. Literally people everywhere, massive queues all down the aisles, people in large groups, no masks.”
As coronavirus continues to spread in the UK, one of the limited reasons we are allowed to leave our homes is to shop for essential items.
Since the announcement of the third lockdown, supermarkets have begun to clamp down on Covid-rules, with shoppers now being required to wear masks in store - unless medically exempt.
Some stores have taken measures further by implementing security to stop groups of customers shopping together. so of