Covid cases at biscuit factory
‘SMALL NUMBER’ AT UTTOXETER PLANT
A BISCUIT factory in Uttoxeter has reported “a small number” of coronavirus cases.
The Elkes Biscuits factory, in the East Staffordshire town, employs hundreds of people.
Bosses at the factory have said there have been “a small number” of positive cases in recent days.
Elkes is known for creating the famous Malted Milk biscuit, with its cow logo.
The firm is based at Cheadle Road. Last year the biscuit maker was set to be sold as part of a large deal but bosses from the parent company which owns the firm decided not to go ahead and Elkes remains as an independent company.
A spokeswoman for Elkes Biscuits said: “We have had a small number of positive covid cases at the factory in recent days.
“Colleague safety remains our number one priority, so we are working closely with all external agencies and following all protocols on contact tracing and selfisolations.
“The Covid prevention measures we have on site have been in place for almost a year and are regularly independently assessed.”
One former worker, who asked not to be named, but had spoken with former colleague still working at the plant, claimed there had been at least six cases and said employees there were very worried at the number of cases which had been reported.
It comes as a total of 8,648 people in East Staffordshire have now had confirmed cases of Covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic – a rise of 32 in 24 hours up to 4pm on Tuesday, February 16.
There have been two deaths announced in the borough, so the total stands at 374 since the pandemic began. The population of the borough is around 119,754.
A total of 189 new cases were recorded across Staffordshire as a whole, including those in East Staffordshire.
That means 54,781 people have tested positive in the county as a whole since the start of the pandemic. Nine more people have died across the county, meaning 2,181 deaths have been recorded in Staffordshire. All cases were within 28 days of people testing positive for the virus.
In South Derbyshire, there have been 24 new cases, with the total since the start of the pandemic now standing at 6,506.
There has been one death in South Derbyshire and the total number now stands at 209. The district’s population is around 107,261.
In Derbyshire as a whole, there have been 44,471 cases, 190 of which have been registered in the 24 hours analysed.
These figures include the South Derbyshire cases.
Across the county, where the population is around 802,694, 1,697 people have died from the virus since February, last year. This is a rise of 21 in the 24 hours.
In North West Leicestershire, there have now been 5,171 cases since the start of the pandemic, including 24 new cases.
A total of 192 people have died within 28 days of testing positive, with two new deaths recorded in the 24 hours.
In Leicestershire as a whole, there have been 172 new cases, and there have been 10 new deaths.
ONE of the dogs stolen from a property near Swadlincote has now been found safe and well.
It was one of eight miniature wirehaired dachshunds that were taken between 11.30pm and midnight on Wednesday, February 10, by thieves who raided a house in Burton Road, Acresford.
Now there has been some good news as one of the dogs has been found more than 100 miles away in Cambriwdgeshire.
A spokesman for Derbyshire Police said: “One of the dogs stolen during the incident has been located safe and well in Cambridgeshire.
“Enquiries are ongoing into how it came to be in the area and we are still appealing for anyone with information to come forward.”
Yesterday, the police released a video of three people they want to speak to in relation to the stolen dogs, which are all pedigree show dogs and worth a substantial amount of money.
The stolen dogs were three male and five female dogs and the other seven are still missing.
The trio in the video were seen in the area at the time the dogs were stolen and officers wish to speak to them as they may have vital information. Police have asked anyone who may have seen the three people or recognises them to get in touch.
The dogs, Rummy, Ricky, Jess, Muffin, Cookie, Percy, Nora and Doris, are aged between one and six,
and are the pets of Cath and Chris Lee, who run Seale Pastures kennels and cattery.
The couple’s daughter Charlotte has previously said the family has been left heartbroken by the theft of
the dogs.
She said: “Our beautiful dachshunds were stolen. The dogs were taken from our home, they broke down our garden fences, smashed our windows.
“I feel sick to my stomach. A couple of them were very nervous dogs and would be terrified right now.
“They are all family pets, they are loved dearly and we’re completely devastated.”
Anyone with any information about the whereabouts of the dogs or the identities of those in the video is asked to contact Derbyshire Police using the reference number 21*084142, by calling 101, using one its social media channels, or at www.derbyshire.police.uk/contact-us.