ALDI in Newton-le-Willows has undergone a deep clean after staff tested positive for coronavirus, the supermarket has confirmed.

A spokesman for the supermarket giant said two employees at its Vulcan Park Way store are self-isolating.

The spokesman said other members of staff were tested, with the results coming back negative.

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An Aldi spokesman said: “The safety and welfare of our colleagues and customers is our number one priority and we continue to follow the latest Government guidelines.

“Two colleagues at our Newton-le-Willows store are currently self-isolating as per the Government guidelines and all other staff tested have shown to be negative.

“The store has been deep cleaned and we have measures in place to ensure everyone’s safety, including additional cleaning in high traffic areas, Perspex screens at checkouts and sanitisation stations for customers.”

Newton-le-Willows has seen a surge in cases over the past fortnight, as infection rates across the region continue to rise.

Data from St Helens’ public health team sent to councillors today showed that, between September 9 to 15, the infection rate across the borough was 94.4 per 100,000 population.

This is lower than the infection rate of 111.6 reported by the council yesterday, which covered the number of new cases between September 6 to 12.

The council said it has decided to provide the most recent data it has.

However, the rate is expected to rise as not all positive cases from that time period will be included in the data due to delays in test results data.

According to this data, there were 30 new cases of Covid-19 in Earlestown between September 9 to 15, giving an infection rate for that community of 257.4.

Newton had 29 new cases during the same period, equating to an infection rate of 232.6.

Over the past two days, a mobile testing unit has been operating in Earlestown in response to the spike in Newton-le-Willows.

Tomorrow (Friday), a mobile testing unit will be stationed at the former Eccleston Park Golf Course.

The facility will be open from 10.30am to 3.30pm to people by car and on foot and is strictly by appointment only.

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Only people with these symptoms – continuous cough, high temperature or a loss of or change in their normal sense of smell or taste – should book a test.

Anyone who attempts to turn up at the testing facility without an appointment will be turned away.

You can apply for a test online or by calling NHS 119. Bookings should be open from 6pm this evening for tomorrow morning.