Covid-19: Some Auckland supermarkets shut following virus exposure

Friday, 20 August 2021

Some Auckland supermarkets will close temporarily due to a lack of staff after potential virus exposure at a number of stores.

From Saturday, Auckland Countdown stores will also see their trading hours change to 8am-9pm, to aid teams with restocking shelves.

Four Auckland stores: Lynfield, Takapuna, Lincoln Rd and Botany will reduce their hours further to 8am-6pm, due to a staffing shortage as team members self-isolate.

Two Countdown stores in central Auckland on Albert St and Halsey St will be temporarily closed from August 22 to provide staffing support at larger stores across the city.

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Kiri Hannifin, Countdown’s general manager of corporate affairs, safety and sustainability, said its Botany, Birkenhead and Glenfield stores will all be shut on Friday.

Due to the number of staff impacted at the Birkenhead Countdown, the store would not re-open until August 31. Botany and Glenfield would re-open as soon as management could roster enough staff on to work, she said.

“We’re doing the best we can to manage not only the demand from customers but also a rapidly-changing situation in terms of locations of interest.

“Obviously this is very unsettling for our teams right across New Zealand.

“We’re continuing to focus on our safety procedures which are designed to keep our team and communities safe, and remind customers to maintain physical distancing, wear masks and to scan in when shopping with us,” Hannifin said.

Six Countdown stores across the city have been visited by someone who had tested positive for Covid-19.

These included:

• Countdown Lincoln Road – on Wednesday, 11 August at 2.56pm - 3.30pm

• Countdown Glenfield – on Saturday, 14 August at 5pm - 5.15pm and Sunday, 15 August 2021.

• Countdown Lynfield – on Wednesday, 4 August at 2.45pm - 3.05pm and Sunday, 15 August at 8pm - 8.15pm

• Countdown Takapuna – on Sunday, 15 August at 3.20pm - 3.30pm

• Countdown Birkenhead – on Friday, 13 August at 6:00pm - 6:30pm and twice on Monday, 16 August. The first visit was at 7.00am - 7.15am and the second visit was at 12.30pm - 12.45pm.

• Countdown Botany Downs – on Tuesday 17 August between 10.20am and 10.30 am

Hannifin said deep cleans were undertaken in each store as a precaution.

This was in addition to the “thorough cleaning” each store went through each day, which had further increased following the recent alert level change, she said.

Meanwhile, Westgate Pak 'n Save told its customers via Facebook it would be reducing trading hours until further notice due to the increased demand.

“[This will] help replenish the shop overnight and ensure food is available for the community. Our new trading hours are 8am-9pm,” the post said.