The testing of workers for Covid-19 at the Cranswick Country Foods plant in Watton, Norfolk, has revealed that over 140 staff members have tested positive for Covid-19.
This comes days after 75 workers at the nearby Bernard Matthews meat plant had also tested positive for Covid-19.
A “small number” of Covid-19 cases had previously been confirmed in the plant on October 15.
300 employees of the plant have been tested with the remaining staff members due to undergo testing today (October 27).
The council’s director of public health, Dr. Louise Smith, said in a statement:
“Testing of staff at Cranswick Foods has revealed a significant outbreak.
At this stage we have identified about 140 positive cases out of around 300 tested so far. The analysis of swabs continues and the remaining staff on site are being tested today and tomorrow.
“Due to the high proportion of positive case results received so far, we are liaising with the Joint Biosecurity Centre and have stepped up contact tracing and leaf-letting in the Watton area, urging people with symptoms to access testing.”
170 pilgrim’s pride works test positive
Over 170 workers at a meat processing plant in Cornwall tested positive for Covid-19 at the beginning of October in another large-scale outbreak of Covid-19.
Most of the cases at the Pilgrim’s Pride factory in Pool were asymptomatic according to the local public health team.
Also Read: Over 170 Pilgrim’s Pride workers test positive for Covid-19A spokesperson for Pilgrim’s Pride said:
From the outset we have worked conscientiously to do all we can to protect our workforce and the local community.
“Our teams have been working extremely hard in collaboration with the local authority and public health to manage this challenging situation, and have bravely conducted themselves with professionalism and integrity as they continue to play their important role in maintaining the UK food supply chain.”
