2 Sisters Coupar Angus site reopens, with 199 COVID-19 cases

The news comes as it reopened its Coupar Angus factory on Monday 31 August after it was temporarily closed due to an outbreak of coronavirus​​.  

According to NHS Tayside there are 199 confirmed cases related to the site – 173 factory workers and 26 community contacts. 

2 Sisters said while it was important to ensure it measures on site were “robust” ​it was also important that its staff understood their obligations. 

A spokesman for 2 Sisters said: “Working closely with the incident management team, NHS Tayside and the local authority, we have been working hard during the temporary closure to supplement our existing Covid-19 control measures to keep all colleagues safe​.

Obligation​ 

“Whilst it is important to ensure our measures on site are robust and working, we believe it is also critically important for our people to understand their obligations away from the factory in the local community, which our initial analysis suggests has played a significant role in the transmission of the virus.”​

 In addition to a series of enhanced measures, staff are receiving training and best practice guides on issues ranging from transport arrangements, conduct in the community, to keeping COVID-safe in a shared household. 

“We expect each and every colleague to take personal responsibility for their own behaviours outside of work,”​ the spokesperson said. 

2 Sisters said as one of the largest employers in the area it was “more than aware” ​of its responsibility in the community.  

It said it had already instigated a series of measures in March, ranging from thermal cameras to staggered shift and break times and enhanced hygiene regimes including frequent cleaning of regular touch points. 

Additional Measures​

It has now introduced additional measures including a full site deep clean of production areas, offices and other facilities; COVID-19 swabbing and full standardised COVID-19 awareness training for all staff before production recommences. 

Face coverings had been made compulsory for all production areas in addition to visors, while a larger changing facility and locker area has been introduced, 2 Sisters said. There is also a new one-way system entering the factory and for the canteen and new workstations are being installed, as well as new toilet facilities for external staff such as drivers. 

Dr Emma Fletcher, associate director of public health and chair of the Coupar Angus incident management team, said: “I would like to thank all of the 2 Sisters factory workers and their families for complying with the self-isolation advice, which is so important in preventing further transmission of the virus in the community.” ​

2 Sisters has said it will give all its staff full work pay at its Coupar Angus factory while they were self-isolating​​.

In June, 2 Sisters suspended production at its chicken plant in Llangeli, Wales following an outbreak there​​. 

Greencore suspended processing at its Northampton site following almost 300 confirmed cases​​.