AS stores reopen while COVID-19 cases continue to rise, major retailers are treading carefully when it comes to the safety of both customers and staff.
In a statement issued by Toby’s Sports today, the sporting goods store announced that it had closed its Mall of Asia branch in Pasay over the weekend after a “third party agency personnel” became a probable COVID-19 case. (The exact nature of the personnel’s work was not disclosed.) The company became aware of the situation on Friday, June 26.
“The last time he worked in our store was June 21,” the brand said in its statement. It stressed that in the eight days since then, no one else has exhibited symptoms.
However, “out of an abundance of caution, we decided to close the store on June 27 in order to administer tests to all our store personnel. We’re glad to inform [the public] that all tests came out negative,” it continued.
The past two days, the store has remained closed as Toby’s Sports conducts a full disinfection of the premises. In addition, it is cooperating with Mall of Asia administration to comply with health and safety clearances before reopening.
“We take your health and safety seriously,” the brand ended its statement. “Rest assured that we will take all steps to ensure that our store and teammates continue to observe all health and safety precautions so we can open and serve you again.”
Toby’s Sports did not indicate a date for the reopening of the branch.
This announcement comes less than two weeks after Decathlon, another major sporting goods retailer, was forced to close its Alabang branch after suspected contact with a COVID-19 case.
Despite its clarification that the suspected carrier did not step inside the branch, Decathlon took the initiative to close and disinfect the Alabang outlet. In addition, its entire workforce (and not just the Alabang branch) was tested for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Results came out negative.
As of June 29, the Philippines has a total of 36,438 cases, with 1,255 reported deaths. 985 new COVID-19 cases were recorded today.
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