Over 170 workers at a meat processing plant in Cornwall have tested positive for Covid-19.
Most of the cases at the Pilgrim’s Pride factory in Pool were asymptomatic according to the local public health team.
A 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.”
Rachel Wigglesworth, interim director for Public Health for Cornwall Council, said:
“Our team has been working tirelessly since the beginning of the pandemic, and have strengthened our local Covid-19 contact tracing approach to help detect cases early, prevent spread and support people to self-isolate.
We’ve quickly identified and tested hundreds of people, and in finding people who weren’t displaying symptoms we have potentially stopped much wider spread in our communities.
“We continue to closely monitor the situation and appreciate the cooperation of Pilgrim’s Pride Ltd. and their employees.”
18 Bernard Matthews workers test positive for Covid-19
18 staff members at a Bernard Matthews turkey plant in Suffolk have also tested positive for Covid-19.
The members of staff affected are self isolating and around 100 other factory workers have been tested.
Also Read: 18 Bernard Matthews meat workers test positive for Covid-19Food production at the plant has not been affected in the run up to the traditionally busy Christmas season.
Stuart Keeble, Suffolk’s director of public health, told Sky News:
“I’d like to reassure people that this is, at this stage, a relatively small number of cases and that the situation is being very carefully managed by all the partners working closely together.”
