Matalan staff are self-isolating after the company said four employees at its Merseyside warehouse and head office had tested positive for coronavirus.
The Knowsley-based discount retailer confirmed on Monday that an employee and agency operative at the distribution centre had received positive tests - as had two team members at head office.
It's not known exactly how many members of staff are now self-isolating following the positive tests, but Matalan said "relevant team members" had been "briefed".
The company also responded to allegations made to BusinessLive over too many employees physically coming into work at the head office site in Kirkby - and that local bosses were not keeping staff informed about the new infections.
A spokeswoman for Matalan refuted those claims, but confirmed the four positive cases.
She said: “We can confirm that for any positive case of Covid-19 all appropriate colleagues are briefed and we thoroughly clean the relevant areas, in line with our enhanced health and safety protocol and official guidance.
"Matalan continues to prioritise employee safety as our number one concern, with multiple enhanced measures in place to ensure their protection.
"We were therefore concerned to hear the alleged account shared with the Liverpool Echo and would encourage any individual to take up our open door policy to discuss any queries or concerns with HR, their line manager or any senior team member.
"We are confident that the steps we take go above and beyond all guidance provided to date by the Government and Public Health England.”
Matalan was at the centre of various stories about social distancing procedures at the warehouse at the start of the pandemic.
Back in March, images emerged of staff crammed into corridors at the distribution centre, with employees said to be in a "state of panic" about coming into work.
Days later, the company said it would furlough workers on a voluntary basis in what was described by the GMB union as a “massive win for safety and common sense”.
