Welfare visits for COVID factory staff
More than 100 cases now linked to plant
Perth and Kinross Council has carried out hundreds of welfare visits to affected members of staff at the 2 Sisters factory in Coupar Angus.
Council leader Murray Lyle thanked council workers who had “pretty much” contacted every affected Perth and Kinross household linked to the significant COVID-19 outbreak.
The news comes as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced there was currently “no evidence of wider community transmission” connected to the cluster at the Perthshire chicken factory at her daily briefing on Monday.
At the time of the PA going to press, 110 positive cases had been linked to the factory - 96 employees and 14 close contacts, although this figures is expected to rise.
It has also emerged over 2500 COVID-19 tests had been taken across Tayside over the past week - 900 at the factory and 1600 at other testing sites across the region, including a pop-up unit at Broxden in Perth which is being operated by the army.
The food processing plant was closed on Monday, August 17 for two weeks. Workers and everyone they live with have been asked to self-isolate until August 31. This includes the workers and households of workers who tested negative.
The factory employs 900 members of staff and 300 agency workers.
Over the past week PKC staff have been working hard to contact members of staff who live in the region.
A PKC spokesperson said: “More than 700 home visits have been carried out by officers and the majority of workers have now received a food parcel, a welfare check and an information leaflet containing public health guidance and support details.
“Additional assistance is being provided where needed.
“Our welfare support team is also providing advice to individuals, including about the availability of crisis grants and other support. The team can be contacted on 0345 30 111 00 or on 0800 917 0708 out-of-hours.
“The community safety team was out in Coupar Angus over the weekend and we will continue to deliver food parcels and make further welfare checks.
“We would encourage anyone who needs support or information to contact us as soon as possible and we will do all that we can to provide assistance and support.”
PKC’s Conservative council leader Murray Lyle and chief executive Karen Reid have been involved in resilience meeting talks with the first minister.
Cllr Lyle told the PA the spike in numbers over the weekend, particularly Saturday, was “very concerning” but added: “I am hopeful we will be able to contain it as the days go on.
“We are getting well through the testing of workers and that is almost complete.”
He thanked the factory’s employees and their households for “being vigilant” and staying at home and council staff for their “huge efforts” to support those affected.
SNP Perth City Centre councillor Eric Drysdale sits on NHS Tayside’s board and chairs the Perth and Kinross Integration Joint Board.
Cllr Drysdale said: “I am being regularly kept apprised of developments across the whole of Perth and Kinross. I am assured that both the Incident Management Team and Scottish Government are content with our local response.
“As of 9am on Monday, PKC staff have carried out 715 visits to affected staff and their families, and I am hugely impressed with their continuing efforts over the weekend.”
Local SNP councillor Fiona Sarwar said it had been a “very concerning time for the community.”
The Strathmore councillor added: “My thoughts are will all those who have contracted coronavirus and I wish you a speedy recovery to full health. We know how quickly this virus can spread and we all have a responsibility over our own actions and to do what we can to limit its reach.”
Conservative Strathmore councillor Colin Stewart said: “I am anxious that we get to 100 per cent of testing of staff as soon as possible and that we make sure we offer them the chance of a repeat test as soon as possible too. It’s possible to carry the virus but not test positive in the early days.”
Dr Emma Fletcher, associate director of public health for NHS Tayside, said: “The increase in positive cases linked to the factory again today is in line with what we expected and we continue to undertake detailed contact tracing of all cases to ensure everyone fully understands what action they must take.
“Hundreds of workers have attended for testing and given the volume of testing which has now been completed, we expect positive cases to continue to rise in the coming days as tests are processed and we receive the results.”
“At least two of the positive contacts have links with two other Tayside food processing plants.”
However, on Monday, the first minister stressed there was “no evidence of wider community transmission” connected to the cluster at the Perthshire poultry processing factory.