Asda received a formal warning over customers not wearing masks or following social distancing rules last year, the ECHO can reveal.
In a letter obtained under freedom of information rules, Knowsley Council’s director of public health Dr Sarah McNulty said she was concerned the Huyton branch was “a potential cause of a local Covid-19 outbreak”.
The letter, sent last August, has come to light after a freedom of information request from retail trade magazine RN Magazine, which has been investigating complaints made about a lack of social distancing in supermarkets across the country.
While RN’s investigation found Knowsley Council had received 33 complaints about several shops between August and October, Asda was the only one that was sent a specific warning over customer behaviour.
The supermarket has said council officers subsequently visited the store and were satisfied with the measures taken to ensure customers wore masks and followed social distancing rules. No further action was taken by the council.
In her letter, prompted by a visit to the supermarket by the council’s environmental health officers, Dr McNulty said: “It has been noted with some concern, that, despite clear government guidance to the contrary, some of your customers are still not observing the government’s requirement for them to wear a face covering and are not adhering to social distancing practice.
“Your store is clearly a very important neighbourhood facility and is a hub to which many people congregate. Therefore, I am very concerned that unless prompt steps are taken to remedy this situation your store is a potential cause of a local COVID-19 outbreak.
“Were this to occur this could have a significant detrimental impact on the local community given its demographic characteristics.
“The Council is keen to work with you to mitigate this risk. However, as you are aware, the management of your store in a COVID-19 safe and secure manner is your responsibility.”
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Dr McNulty asked the store to provide details of how it was monitoring the number of people in the store, implementing queuing systems to limit crowds gathering at entrances, reminding customers to only buy what they need and ensuring customers were wearing masks.
She also reminded the store manager that the council had powers to impose restrictions on the store if it decided it was not trading in a “Covid-19 safe and secure manner”, saying the council “will have no hesitation in using these powers as necessary”.
A spokesperson for Asda said: “We have had numerous visits by the local authorities and they have been and continue to be satisfied with the extensive safety measures we have in place - including covid-marshals, protective screens, social distancing signage and numerous hand sanitiser stations – so our customers can rest assured that we have always followed the guidance as set out by the government.”
A spokesperson from Knowsley Council said: “Throughout the pandemic Knowsley Council has worked closely with businesses to ensure they are complying Covid-19 legislation and that they are Covid-secure.
“Following the advice given to Asda in August, our follow-up visits confirmed that the specific issues identified had been addressed by the store. We do not have any outstanding complaints to investigate with regards to Asda.
“We are working closing with other partners including Merseyside Police on enforcing breaches of Covid regulations. Fines are being issued to people who are not adhering to the requirement to wear face coverings in supermarkets. Maintaining social distancing should be embedded in people’s daily lives for their own protection.”
