King Soopers Grocery Worker Dies From Coronavirus In Denver

DENVER, CO — A King Soopers grocery worker in Denver has died from the coronavirus, union and store officials confirmed. Randy Narvaez had worked at the store on East 9th Avenue for three decades.

Among the store's 166 employees, 11 other cases have been confirmed, the store said.

Kim Cordova, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 7, said the store's owner, Kroger, needs to close the business for disinfecting while its workers are tested.

“Additionally, we are also calling on Kroger to increase employee testing, improve store safety measures such as mandatory face masks for customers and entrants, limit the number of shoppers in a store at one time, enforce social distancing, and maintain worker’s Hero Pay of $2.00 an hour," Cordova said in a statement.

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"For more than two months, grocery workers like Mr. Narvaez have put their lives at risk to serve their communities," Cordova said. "His death, the second of our King Sooper members to pass from COVID-19, should not be in vain. We will continue to call on Kroger’s stores in Colorado and Wyoming — King Soopers in Colorado and City Market and Smith’s in Wyoming — to take action to protect its employees and customers.”

King Soopers said it's provided gloves and masks to all employees for every shift, installed plexiglass shields at checkouts, posted decals that outline social distancing guidelines, issued protocols for handwashing and cleaning every 30 minutes, limited store capacity to 50 percent, increased store sanitation when stocking and conducted mandatory temperature and symptom checks for workers before all shifts.

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of our King Soopers family member who worked at the Capitol Hill store in Denver," King Soopers said in a statement.

"The associate had been previously diagnosed with COVID-19 in early May. Our associates are part of our family and we, along with their families are mourning this loss deeply. Additionally, we are in communication with our associates that have tested positive to assist in their needs."

King Soopers said all employees at the Capitol Hill store will be tested, and that the store was sanitized Sunday.

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