A number of employees at the producer’s Manton Wood factory have tested positive for the novel coronavirus and are now self-isolating.
That follows a reported outbreak of COVID-19 at Greencore’s Northampton manufacturing site in August, after 292 people tested positive for the virus through National Health Service and private testing programmes.
A spokesman for the business said: “Our thoughts are with all those affected, who are currently recovering at home, and we will continue to monitor their welfare as the situation develops.”
Track and trace
The manufacturer has conducted contact tracing and instructed potentially affected colleagues to self-isolate and has arranged for testing to be carried out at the site. Greencore is now in liaison with the local council and Public Health England.
Jonathan Gribbin, director of public health for Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “We have been carefully studying the cluster of cases across Bassetlaw district. We are working with Greencore and Public Health England to provide testing and to understand more about how people are acquiring the infection.
“Greencore has an extensive range of controls in place, has responded quickly and decisively to the situation and is working closely with us.”
Food factory outbreaks
This year has seen a growing number of food factories report outbreaks of COVID-19.
Bakkavor confirmed two deaths due to the virus at its Tilmanstone Salads factory, but stressed there was no evidence they contracted the disease in the workplace.
Last month, a total of 106 workers were self-isolating at Kepak Group's Bodmin red meat processing plant in Cornwall after testing positive for COVID-19, with most showing no obvious symptoms.
Meanwhile, Food factories could become ‘super spreaders’ of COVID-19 in the run-up to Christmas, according to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), but it has been challenged by the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA).
