July 31, 2020
Woolworths customers and employees in COVID-19 hotspot areas in Queensland will be “strongly encouraged” to wear face masks.
The company issued a media statement on Thursday in the wake of more confirmed coronavirus cases in NSW and a scare in Brisbane’s southern suburbs involving an alleged border breach by three young women.
“With the increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in NSW, customers, teams and visitors across all Woolworths Group stores and sites in NSW and ACT will be strongly encouraged to wear face coverings from Monday (August 3),” the statement said.
“In Queensland, customers and teams across Woolworths Group stores and sites within hot spot areas will also be strongly encouraged to wear face coverings from tomorrow (Friday).
“The guidance is for Woolworths Supermarkets, Woolworths Metro Food Stores, BIG W, Dan Murphy’s, BWS and ALH Hotels.
“This is in addition to the mandatory requirements for face coverings in all of Victoria, currently in place across Melbourne and Mitchell shires, with the entire State now included from Sunday.”
Group CEO Brad Banducci said the safety and wellbeing of Woolworths’ customers, teams and communities were the company’s top priority.
“Even though wearing a face covering is not mandatory in NSW, ACT or Queensland, as the largest private sector employer with stores in almost every community, we feel it’s important we lead the way in helping reduce community transmission of COVID-19,” he said.
“We’re asking our teams to lead by example, and this includes our Group Executive Team.
“Masks and face coverings are a highly visible symbol of the persistence of COVID-19. By encouraging and role modelling their use, it will further support the steps we need to collectively take to stop the spread of the virus and keep our team and customers safe.”
Face coverings are being provided to all Woolworths Group team members to wear and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.
“We’ll continue to work with the Health Department to make sure our safety protocols and procedures are the best they can be,” Mr Banducci said.
“We’d like to thank our customers and team for their ongoing support as we all work together to keep our communities COVIDSafe.”
