Co-op worker critical in hospital ‘with coronavirus’ after serving shoppers ‘without protective equipment’ – The Sun
THE husband of a shop worker battling for her life after contracting Covid-19 says she wasn't given protective equipment by her employers.
Clare Hill, 44, worked at a Southern Co-operative convenience store in Keynsham, Somerset until she fell ill on March 24.
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She was rushed to the Royal United Hospital in Bath, where she was diagnosed with coronavirus.
Clare has been in an induced coma in intensive care for five days.
Husband Steven has now slammed her employers for not providing staff with proper personal protection equipment (PPE).
Company bosses say they're rolling out protective screens in all branches as quickly as possible.
FIGHT FOR LIFE
In an interview with ITV News, Steven said: "In 72 hours, she went for a happy, middle-aged woman to someone fighting for her life.
"She was just doing her job like everyone else.
"These people should have had protection two or three weeks ago."
Clare fell ill around a week ago, first complaining of a headache.
She went straight to bed, staying in her room until Wednesday.
On Thursday, she developed a cough, and Steven called 111. He took his wife to hospital on Friday afternoon.
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"We've got the biggest pandemic crisis for centuries and people are expected to go to work without gloves and masks," he said.
Southern Co-operative Society, which owns the store, said: "While there is no evidence to suggest that Covid-19 was contracted at work, we are deeply saddened that one of our colleagues has been hospitalised.
"We have offered our support to her family.
'NO PPE FOR OUR BIGGEST PANDEMIC'
"This pandemic continues to move at pace and, like all retailers, we're working quickly to implement measures in response to the latest government advice."
Protective screens are being rolled out in stores, she said.
"Unfortunately, like all retailers, we've faced significant delays beyond our control in obtaining additional gloves and hand sanitiser, as national supplies – we suspect – are being redeployed to NHS frontline staff," she said.
"We are also closely monitoring Government advice on face masks, which currently states that masks serve little use outside of a clinical setting."
Tireless shop staff are facing long hours and the risk of infection as they keep the nation's stores open.
Some supermarkets, including Aldi and Morrisons, have announced new bonus schemes for hard-working staff.
Most big companies have now set new limits on how many of individual products can be bought.
Supermarkets are protecting their checkout workers with screens, while there is also be "safe distance" floor signage and additional security.
Morrisons is also introducing signage in stores to support social distancing, including floor stickers, posters and banners which will ask customers to keep one trolley distance apart.
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