2 Sisters outbreak has left people too scared to eat out
Tearoom owner Carol on impact of COVID-19 crisis
A Coupar Angus business owner has spoken of the devastating impact the COVID-19 outbreak at 2 Sisters has had, as the factory prepares to open again.
Carol Clark, who runs the Three Witches Tearoom with her husband Steve, says business has bombed because people are too scared to leave their homes.
It comes as plans for the food processing plant’s reopening were discussed at an NHS Tayside board meeting yesterday.
A couple from Scone who have poured their savings and their time into re-establishing a tearoom near Coupar Angus have revealed they are battling to survive after the COVID-9 outbreak in the town.
Carol Clark and her husband Steve took over the Three Witches Tearoom, located on a Burrelton farm near the town, in April 2018 after it had been shut for six months.
They took on five staff and worked hard to relaunch the cafe and establish a cheery presence in the business community.
But Carol says trade has “died” as her mainly over65 customers have been wary of leaving home after the number of COVID-19 positive tests linked to the 2 Sisters chicken factory in Coupar Angus climbed to over 160 this week.
She claims she witnessed factory staff breaking rules designed to prevent coronavirus infection and it angers her that all the while she was going out of her way to make her tearoom safe.
In a difficult decision, she decided to cut out two days of the seven days she is normally open after a “pitiful” day’s trading in the tearoom on Monday.
“This time last year we were making three times what our turnover is at the moment and we cannot see light at the end of this long and dark tunnel,” she wrote
The team dealing with the 2 Sisters factory coronavirus outbreak is working towards a reopening on August 31.
The factory was closed for two weeks following a COVID-19 outbreak now linked to at least 166 confirmed positive cases.
It has been confirmed 146 workers have tested positive along with 20 community contacts, although this was likely to change after the PA went to press.
Presenting an update to NHS Tayside’s board at a virtual meeting yesterday Dr Emma Fletcher, NHS Tayside’s associate director of public health, said there was “no evidence of sustained community transmission”.
However, Dr Fletcher, who has been highly involved in NHSTayside’s public health response to the cluster, added this was a “dynamic situation ”and the Incident Management Team (IMT) set up to deal with the outbreak would continue to monitor the situation.
She told the board: “The IMT is currently working with the factory to ensure the appropriate procedures are in place for its safe reopening.
“Public health continues to monitor the situation across Tayside very carefully.”
NHS Tayside’s public health team took the decision not to reinstate indoor visiting at care homes due to the ongoing situation at the factory and a number of other clusters and positive cases in Tayside.
Dr Fletcher said:“This situation will be kept under close review and when it can be done as safely as possible.”
Chief executive Grant Archibald said:“This has been an incredibly challenging and dynamic situation.”
Meanwhile, Perth and Kinross Council staff have visited hundreds of homes and plan to deliver hundreds more food parcels to workers who are self-isolating.
All 1200 workers at the plant and their households are currently required to self-isolate until August 31, even if they have tested negative for COVID-19.
As a result, staff from PKC have been seeking to help those who are unable to leave their homes.
Council officers visited 715 homes across Perth and Kinross last week to deliver food parcels, provide information on self-isolation in a number of languages and to carry out basic welfare checks.
A further 665 welfare checks have also taken place to ensure employees receive the necessary support and assistance.
A spokesperson for PKC said: “Our customer call centre (0345 30 111 00) and Welfare Rights team is also helping individuals who contact them apply for financial assistance such as crisis grants. An out-of-hours phoneline (0800 917 0708) is also available.”
PKC’s Conservative leader councillor Murray Lyle said: “Perth and Kinross Council’s decisive response to the outbreak at 2 Sisters in Coupar Angus has been critical in preventing widespread community transmission of coronavirus and supporting affected workers.”
It comes in a week where concerns were raised that some staff had been flouting self-isolation guidance.
Pete Wishart MP has pleaded with staff to stay at home, saying: “I cannot express how disappointing it is to see 2 Sisters workers who are not complying with the requirement for them to stay at home.
“Regardless of a negative test, anyone who works at the factory, and everyone in their household, must stay at home until August 31. This is not optional.”