When should we go beyond government recommendations?
The question has arisen in Versailles since 17 cases were officially identified in the Carrefour Market store, in the Grand-Siècle district.
They are even 23 infected with Covid-19, according to staff representatives out of 80 employees in total.
An exceptional situation which highlights the limits of health protocols.
Since March 11, the day when the first positive case occurred, the Carrefour group claims to have scrupulously respected the rules.
"We immediately inform employees identified as contact cases," said a spokesperson.
Four closures for disinfection since March 11
The Social and Economic Committee (CSE), a representative body for staff in the company, reports that "the management hid this case, nothing was put in place" and therefore exercised its right to alert on March 19, requiring the opening of an internal investigation.
This gave rise to two screening campaigns, the last of which was Saturday, March 27.
The cleaning teams have been reinforced, protective windows have been installed in the delicatessen department.
A security guard has also been recruited, in addition to the one already in place.
They are equipped with a mobile application to limit entry.
“On Saturday, we saw on the spot that these promises were not kept: the entry flows were not controlled,” reports Laurent Lamaury, staff representative.
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The additional security guard finally arrived on Monday after a new disinfection operation which forced the store to open two hours later than expected.
This is the fourth such operation since March 11.
"What shocks me is that they do not completely close the store to do a complete disinfection, including stalls where the merchandise is located, yet this is what they did at the start of the pandemic during the first confinement, ”recalls Laurent Lamaury.
"It's unfair to hide what is happening from them"
To which Carrefour Market responds: "the rules have absolutely not changed and the regional health agency has validated all of our measures".
Concretely, the sign is required to disinfect contact points such as the area around checkouts, baskets, trolley bars or buttons.
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Not enough to satisfy the CSE.
In a press release of March 26, the CGT clearly accuses the management of not having taken sufficient precautions, and holds it partly responsible for the proliferation of cases.
Versailles, this Monday.
Most of the people questioned “trust” supermarkets. / LP / Julie Ménard
Today, the elected staff do not necessarily call for the closure of the Carrefour Market but they wish, at the very least, that customers can choose whether or not to come to shop there.
A handwritten petition launched this Saturday brought together 60 signatures to this effect.
"We do not want to be responsible for not having informed them of the situation, we find that it is unfair to hide what is happening from them," concludes Laurent Lamaury.
In general, we want stores to be more vigilant.
"
"There are already so many stores closed ..."
Problem: today no health measure, no law, obliges the signs to lower the curtain when a certain number of cases is reached within the workforce.
Nothing either, keeps them from informing their customers.
"It's tricky, there are already so many closed stores ... But not knowing it as a customer, it would not be correct on the part of the store", breathes Alice, a mixed buyer on the issue.
Most of the people interviewed on the street “trust” supermarkets.
“As long as they take precautions and the information goes internally, I don't mind not being informed,” says Damien, 29 years old.
“We have to learn to live with the virus,” adds Michèle 88 years old.
Lucie, in her thirties, wonders, however: "If we do not inform customers, how to prevent the virus from infecting the whole neighborhood?
"
