US health officials have ordered the closure of a Walmart outlet in Aurora, Colorado after a number of the store's employees had died after having contracted coronavirus. According to reports, a 72-year-old Walmart worker and her 63-year old husband along with a 69-year old Walmart contractor were confirmed to have died from symptoms after contracting the deadly disease.
The Tri-County Health Department in Colorado confirmed last week that six additional employees working at a Walmart supercenter had tested positive for the virus. Three more workers were found to be suffering from COVID-19 symptoms are now being tested.
The order to shutdown was given by the health department after it received reports from concerns employees and customers that the store had not properly implemented social distancing guidelines. Complainants revealed that the store had allowed too many people inside and its employees were not wearing any protective gear such as face masks or gloves.
Tri-County Health Department executive director, Dr. John Douglas Jr., mentioned in a statement that the confirmed deaths only underlined the importance that companies follow social distancing rules in order to mitigate the further spread of the highly-contagious virus.
In response to the shutdown, Walmart issued a statement expressing its sympathy for the passing of one of its employees in Colorado. Walmart added that the closure of its store should now allow it to properly clean and sanitize the premises.
Walmart assured those who were impacted by the closure that it will be doing everything to support them during this difficult situation. The company revealed that it will be working with the Tri-County Health Department in order to take the proper steps to ensure the safe reopening of the outlet.
As the pandemic had started to spread throughout the nation, Walmart was quick in it response to impose measures to protect its employees and customers. These measures included the installation of barriers at checkout lanes and social distancing markets at its outlets nationwide.
Despite its rapidly imposed measures, a number of the company's workers still got infected by the virus. Walmart has declined to reveal how many of its employees had tested positive. Due to the increasing reports of infected retail workers, lawmakers have been calling on all companies to enhance their preventive measures to ensure the health and safety of their employees.
Last week, Democratic senators wrote a letter to Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, urging him to take immediate action and to do more to protect the company's employees who are continuing to work amid the health crisis.
