Outbreak at Coupar Angus factory tamed after ‘expected’ rise in rates

A third coronavirus outbreak at a Perthshire chicken factory appears to have been tamed, with health chiefs reporting an “expected” rise in positive cases.

Members of the military were called to the 2 Sisters plant in Coupar Angus last week, after a “small but sustained increase” in infections among staff.

An Incident Management Team (IMT) set up to monitor the cluster has now confirmed that the number of cases linked to the George Street abattoir has nearly doubled in seven days, from 25 to 49.

However, those affected were already identified as close contacts and were in isolation.

It is understood that more than 100 staff were told to stay home after a mass testing operation at the beginning of last week.

It is the third major outbreak at the site since last summer. During the first incident, the factory was ordered to close for two weeks and all 1,000 staff quarantined.

This time, health bosses have insisted there is no reason to halt production.

Dr Emma Fletcher, who chairs the multi-agency IMT said: “The number of cases of Covid-19 associated with the factory has risen to 49. This is an expected increase made up of people who had been identified as close contacts and advised to self-isolate.

“The factory is working closely with NHS Tayside’s public health team and Food Standards Scotland to ensure all arrangements for contact tracing and self-isolation are in place.”

The 2 Sisters Food Group did not respond to requests for comment.

Covid cases have doubled at the 2 Sisters site.