Factory staff test positive for Covid-19

FOUR members of staff at a large Caerphilly food factory have tested positive for coronavirus.

Colleagues who have been in direct contact with these cases at the Peters Food factory have also been removed from the site.

Peters confirmed the cases and said it had taken “extensive measures” to stop the spread of the virus.

The factory, which employs more than 600 people and is based in Bedwas, remains open.

It comes as the local lockdown in Caerphilly was extended for a further seven days yesterday, and the rate of the infection across the county rose to 76.8 per 100,000 people.

Peter’s Food Service managing director Mike Grimwood said: “We can confirm that we have four colleagues who have reported positive Covid tests. It is our reasonable belief that these have all been community-based transmissions rather than sitebased.

“As a matter of course, as soon as a colleague informs us that they have received a positive result they are excluded from site, and we contact the local authorities to ensure that the ‘track and trace’ process is implemented.

“Any colleague, who is defined as a ‘direct contact’ of a colleague who has unfortunately tested positive, is also immediately excluded from site.

“In every case, we have been working proactively with the local authority and the NHS TTP team in response to any Covid-19 cases associated with Peters Food Service Limited.

“To ensure that ‘Track and Trace’ can be alerted, and to follow up any direct contacts, we outline where the positive contact has worked, the nature of their work, and the precautions we have taken to ensure that we limit any further transmission.

“Peter’s has a workforce of 613 at the Bedwas site. The business is located in a Covid hotspot and Wales’ first ‘lockdown area’. Ideally, we do not want any cases, but given our location we would expect some colleagues to become positive. The key issue is then control so that others are then safeguarded.”

Mr Grimwood said the factory had been working in a “Covid world” for seven months and extensive measures had been taken to protect staff.

He said that these include social distancing measures, regular cleaning, staggered shifts and socially distanced canteen areas.

He also said a weekly Covid review takes place with colleagues and trade union representatives to ensure that practices are maintained, and any concerns dealt with.