The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Store staff worried about staying open to sell non-essential items
Fears of potential coronavirus spread have been raised at two top supermarkets with north and north-east branches.
A number of staff at Argos shops within Sainsbury’s supermarkets in the north-east have highlighted their worries about exposure to Covid-19.
Argos has shut its standalone shops, however outlets inside larger Sainsbury’s stores remain open for pick-ups of online orders.
Despite a spokeswoman for Argos saying the company is able to sell essential products to those in need, north-east employees argue it is disregarding government adviceonwhatisdeemed essential.
Richard Thomson, the SNP MP for Gordon, said: “The fact Argos counters happen to be inside supermarkets is completely irrelevant – Argos management must have known perfectly well that keeping these counters open was flouting the same rules that meant they had to close their stand-alone outlets.”
A spokeswoman for Argos said: “Argos products can only be bought online. We are then strongly advising customers to have these delivered to their homes. We also have an option to collect from Sainsbury’s supermarkets while doing an essential food shop.
“The safety of colleagues and customers is extremely important to us and we have introduced a range of measures to keep people safe. We have fully committed to supporting all colleagues who are unwell or self-isolating.”
Meanwhile, an Aberdeen teacher has accused staff at a Morrisons supermarket on King Street in Aberdeen of flouting social distancing rules, and at times letting people queue outside within a metre of each other.
Barry Gibson, who teaches at Aberdeen Grammar, said: “The outcome of this was to cause panic and alarm among me and those queuing and adhering the social distancing rules as set out by the government.”
He added: “No one was involved in any cleaning regime and there were several staff just milling about chatting.”
The supermarket chain did not respond to a request for comment.
“We have introduced a range of measures”