TWO STAFF DIE WITHIN THREE DAYS FROM COVID
Shock runs deep at one of area’s major employers
TWO workers at a Grimsby seafood factory have died in the last three days following a coronavirus outbreak at the site.
Hilton Seafood has confirmed that two staff members have died after testing positive for Covid-19. According to the company, the staff members were being treated at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital before sadly passing away in the three days up to March 2.
The factory, formerly Seachill Ltd, employs more than 300 people, and is one of North East Lincolnshire’s major employers. A spokesperson for Hilton Seafood UK said: “Hilton Seafood is deeply saddened by the deaths of two of its staff over the past three days.
“Both were being treated at the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby for Covid-19.
“We are in close contact with the families and will provide all the support we can at this difficult time.
“The safety of Hilton Seafood employees remains our number one priority.
“Working closely with Public Health England, we have maintained an intense focus on Covid19 security, including weekly onsite testing for the disease, to identify and isolate asymptomatic cases.”
Last week, North East Lincolnshire Council confirmed that the area has seen a spike in cases following outbreaks in factories. In a coronavirus epidemiology report, the council said: “The infection rate of Covid-19 in North East Lincolnshire has risen in recent weeks and is now close to the national average for infection rates following falls in other parts of the country.
“This is associated with a number of significant outbreaks that have occurred in factories.” According to the most recent government data, large spikes in infections are centred around housing estates near to Hilton Seafood, while the majority of North East Lincolnshire has reduced cases.
This includes Yarborough, which has the highest case rate in northern Lincolnshire, with a case rate of 453.4 per 100,000 population, and the West Marsh, which has a case rate of 273.1 per 100,000 population.
Both of these figures are way above the national average. A fishing industry news website, Undercurrent News, reported that between 50 and 60 members of staff have tested positive at the factory, according to it’s sources. Hilton Seafood UK declined to comment further on these reports.
A spokesperson for North East Lincolnshire Council’s Public Health team said: “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of all those who have lost their lives to this terrible disease.
“Very sadly, this outbreak demonstrates how quickly the virus can spread, and how vitally important it is that we continue to follow the rules and take those simple but key precautions.
“We continue to work closely with local businesses to reduce the risk of the coronavirus spreading in these settings.
“When an outbreak is reported to us, we quickly put plans in place to self-isolate those confirmed to have the virus and their contacts, and facilitate access to appropriate testing so we can minimise the spread.
“In recent weeks, we have identified an outbreak at a Grimsby factory run by this company and convened an outbreak control group in partnership with the company and Public Health England to bring the outbreak under control.
“Indications suggest that the number of new cases associated with the factory have fallen significantly over the last week.”