LARGE numbers of staff at Tesco Extra in Salisbury are reportedly self-isolating after an outbreak of Covid-19 at the store.

It has been claimed there are more than 100 members of staff from the Southampton Road store having to self-isolate.

According to local reports, this includes around 20 members of staff having tested positive for coronavirus.

Several sources have contacted the Journal about cases of the virus among store staff.

Tesco has confirmed a number of members of staff are off work because of the virus.

But the supermarket chain would not comment on the number of people affected.

Last week the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) called on all retailers to reinstate full lockdown safety measures in stores.

It said: "The union has been inundated with complaints from members deeply concerned about their safety as customers blatantly flout the rules."

Yesterday (January 14), Usdaw renewed a call for key workers to be prioritised for vaccination, after the Government indicated they are looking at priority for the second phase and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) accepted that occupation is a factor.

A Tesco spokesperson said: “A number of colleagues at our Salisbury Extra store are off work due to COVID-19. Their close contacts have been informed.

"The safety of our colleagues, customers and suppliers remains our number one priority and we are working with local public health authorities, following all Government guidance and taking the relevant precautions.

"We have extensive measures across all of our stores to help keep everyone safe, including protective screens at every checkout, social distancing signage and regular cleaning.”