Following testing of its customer-facing retail employees, Jersey Electricity confirms that two of 21 front-line Powerhouse employees have returned positive results for Coronavirus. All contacts impacted are self-isolating pending test results.
The Powerhouse, Jersey’s largest electrical retail store, closed its doors at 2.30pm on Wednesday 11 November due to an unplanned staff shortage when those employees who had gone for a Coronavirus test under the Government’s Workforce Testing Programme were told not to return to their workplace until their results were known.
The staff shortage left Jersey Electricity with no alternative but to close the store temporarily.
Of the 21 employees tested on Wednesday, two returned positive results for Coronavirus. They and their contacts are self-isolating. The store is undergoing a thorough deep clean to ensure it continues to be COVID-19 secure for customers and employees before it re-opens in the next few days. Customers can continue to shop online at www.powerhouse.je and either ‘click and collect’ their goods or have them delivered free of charge.
Jersey Electricity’s Customer Care Team is available as normal on: 505460 or email jec@jec.co.uk. Any customers who have any concerns regarding COVID-19 are urged to follow Government guidelines and contact the Government helpline: 445566.
Head of Retail Gavin Murphy said: ‘The action we have taken demonstrates that our COVID controls are working well and I’d like to thank our employees for their diligence in following the correct Public Health and Company procedures.
‘We apologise for the inconvenience to those customers who wanted to visit the Powerhouse to shop. We have bolstered our online operation to meet customer demand and both Click and Collect and free home delivery remain in place.
‘A deep clean of the store is already in process and the majority of employees have already returned negative results. As a result, we are hoping to re-open the doors as soon as possible. Customers can still shop online or over the telephone 0800 048 8042.
‘The health and safety of the general public, our customers and our employees has been our top priority throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to be so.’
