March 19, 2020
Kingaroy Shoppingworld has imposed a ban on media in the wake of last week’s revelation that a Woolworths employee had tested positive to COVID-19.
The region’s first detected case of COVID-19 was reported last Friday after Queensland Health confirmed a Kingaroy resident tested positive for the disease.
A sign was posted at the front of the Kingaroy Woolworths store encouraging customers who had been there in the past week and experiencing symptoms to call the Department of Health hotline.
A spokesperson from Woolworths’ national office later confirmed the diagnosis.
“While the Queensland Department of Health has confirmed the risk of transmission to customers and team members is low, the safety and wellbeing of the community is our highest priority,” the spokesperson said.
“We have contacted our store team members and will provide all appropriate support and guidance to them in line with the advice from the health authorities.
“As a food retailer, we already have very high standards of cleaning and hygiene in place, and as an extra precautionary measure, the store had a deep clean overnight.
“Customers and team members should be assured they can continue to shop and work at our Kingaroy supermarket with confidence.
“Any customers shopping in our stores over the past week who become unwell in the next two weeks should contact the Department of Health.”
On Thursday, Shoppingworld Assistant Centre Manager Georgina Williamson sent an email to advise of the media ban.
“Please be advised that we are not allowing any media in Kingaroy Shoppingworld at present as health and safety of everyone visiting the centre remains our primary focus, as we continue to create a safe and welcoming experience for the community. Providing customers with access to essential products and services.
“If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Centre Management via email at this time.”
southburnett.com.au editor Anne Miller said the ban was ludicrous.
“At the moment all journalists are trying very hard to avoid COVID-19 so we can keep working to ensure our readers are accurately informed about the latest developments in this crisis,” she said.
“At present, our highest duty is to provide the public with accurate and up-to-date reporting to help keep them safe.
“Readers are entitled to know if any other COVID-19 cases are confirmed in the South Burnett – at Shoppingworld, or anywhere else – and we will resist any attempt to stifle the flow of information to the public.
“Shoppingworld should not be putting the health of its business ahead of the health of customers who patronise it.
“That is disgraceful.”
Thank you Anne. The banning of our trusted local media is truly disgraceful. In this crisis we need the truth not statements from Management which cannot be subjected to scrutiny.
Vee-Jay