Virus Forces Product Limit in Victorian Stores

Virus Forces Product Limit in Victorian Stores
A shopper walks out of Coles supermarket on May 25, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
AAP
By AAP
7/2/2020
Updated:
7/2/2020

A number of positive tests at a Coles distribution centre has forced the company to place a two-pack limit on several products.

Coles announced on Thursday that all three states—Victoria, Tasmania and parts of NSW—would be affected by positive tests from several staff members at their Laverton distribution centre.

The need to isolate and contact trace close contacts to those workers has prompted the company to place two-pack limits for products such as fresh milk, canned tomatoes, cheese or butter, among many others.

These new limits are in addition to the previous Victorian restrictions to buy more than two packs of pasta, flour, eggs or hand sanitiser, and the federal limit of one toilet paper pack.

The distribution centre has been cleaned daily since the tests returned positive, and the company is working with the Victorian Health Department to ensure it can remain open to “keep food on shelves.”

The company said all workers at the centre will be tested, and ensured none of the positive cases have been at the Laverton distribution centre since June 25.

“The reduced number of available team members has temporarily impacted our ability to replenish our Victorian stores with chilled and fresh produce lines,” the company said in a statement.

“We apologise to customers of our Victorian and NSW border stores who may find some chilled and fresh produce lines are temporarily out of stock.”

Melbourne