Worker at Nissan tests positive for COVID-19

Car manufacturer Nissan has confirmed a worker at its Wearside factory has tested positive for COVID-19.

The firm said that the Sunderland worker is recovering at home and confirmed that a further two members of staff were self-isolating at home.

Nissan stressed that the safety of workers is its ‘top priority’ and said it has ‘comprehensive’ safety measures in place to protect staff.

T h e c a r g i a nt a l s o s a id that it will continue to work closely with Public Health England.

A Nissan spokeswoman said: “We are in close contact with a member of our team who is now recovering at home.

“We are working closely with Public Health England, and a further two members of our team will now begin a period of self-isolation.

“The safety of the team is our top priority and we will continue to follow all public health guidelines.

"We have a thorough and comprehensive set of proactive safety measures in place to protect our staff, which we will continue to review in line with public health advice.”

The Nissan case follows an outbreak of coronavirus cases across Sunderland over the last week, with a number linked to a charity football match at Burnside Working Men’s Club, on the border of Sunderland and Durham.

Up to 300 people who attended the charity match are being asked to self-isolate until Sunday, September 13, after 28 people who attended the event on August 30, tested positive for COVID-19.

Meanwhile bars, restaura nt s a n d s c h o o l s ac ro s s We a r s i d e a re a m o n g t h e places to have announced closures over the weekend due to coronavirus.