A GARDEN centre has apologised for an ‘error of judgement’ after advising staff to go into work even if they test positive for Covid-19.

Bents Garden and Home, in Glazebury, recently sent a briefing to employees updating them on current Government guidance and issuing advice on the site’s policies over coronavirus.

The note stated that workers ‘can attend work if they feel generally well enough to be in work’ despite contracting the virus.

But the memo has been described as ‘out of order’.

One concerned person told the Manchester Evening News: “This is a retailer often full of older people who will naturally be more vulnerable than most people.

“I understand that businesses have had a hard time, but this is no way to treat people given how many thousands of people have already died.”

And Bents has now issued an apology after ‘misinterpreting’ the current Government guidance on Covid, adding that it will be issuing a ‘more suitable’ policy in the near future.

In a statement, the popular home and garden centre said: “Over the past couple of years and throughout the Covid 19 pandemic, we at Bents have followed Government guidelines very closely and put strict safety measures in place to ensure the well-being of our customers and colleagues.

“Whilst we continue to implement, follow and review these safety measures in line with the evolving Covid environment, we feel we may have misjudged and misinterpreted the latest set of guidelines and we apologise for our latest briefing issued to our colleagues.

“Our intention with this approach was definitely not to undermine all the hard work we have put in to making Bents a welcoming place to be, but to try and move forward whilst living with Covid.

“We aimed to provide guidance as to what to do if a colleague tests positive and, whilst self-isolation and stay at home steps were provided for those feeling unwell and with symptoms, we understand we were wrong to suggest that colleagues who presented with no symptoms yet test positive could come into work.

“We are truly sorry for this error of judgement, especially at a time when cases are on the rise again.

“The safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and customers is our absolute priority and we understand the confusing this message has caused.

“We immediately retract our latest colleague briefing and will be re-issuing with a more suitable policy in line with our previous, very strict and careful approach to the Covid pandemic.”