Ikea sends home 73 workers after 13 staff test positive for Covid in mass outbreak at its Reading store
- The workers have been sent home from the furniture giant’s store in Reading
- Store is currently closed to the public but was open for click and collect service
- The manager said the first positive test result came in on Saturday
An IKEA has been forced to send home 73 workers for self-isolation after a mass coronavirus outbreak at one store.
Some 13 workers tested positive for the virus at the furniture giant’s store in Reading, Berkshire.
A further 60 workers were then told they had to self-isolate at home because the may be at risk.
Some 13 workers tested positive for the virus at the furniture giant’s store in Reading, Berkshire (pictured)
The store is currently closed to the public due to the month-long Government lockdown.
But it is open for customers who shop online to use their click and collect service.
The store, which has been hit by queuing problems, employees up to 350 staff.
Kim Chin-Sung, IKEA Reading Market manager, said: ‘The health and safety of our customers and co-workers is our top priority.
A further 60 workers were then told they had to self-isolate at home because the may be at risk
‘We have extremely robust safety measures in place, including social distancing, protective screens and additional regular cleaning.
‘On Saturday, we were made aware that a co-worker had tested positive for Covid-19.
‘Shortly after this, other co-workers began receiving alerts from the NHS Track and Trace System in the normal way, and were immediately sent home to self-isolate on full pay.’