According to an employee of the Rylands branch of Checkers, 7 staff members of the store have tested positive for Covid 19. As a result workers went on strike, to demand that the store be closed for deep cleaning.

Despite the worker's concerns, the store has continued trading. Workers protested outside the store while their representatives engaged with management of the situation.

South Africa is under a national Coronavirus lockdown. The Western Cape has more than half of the positive Covid 19 cases in the country. As of 14 May, South Africa had 12 739 Covid 19 infections and 238 deaths.

Shoprite Checkers is the largest retail chain in South Africa and one its largest publicly listed companies.