The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Rising Covid cases force 2 Sisters plant to halt production.
Member of management team is source of outbreak at 2 Sisters plant in Coupar Angus
A Covid-19 outbreak at a Tayside food factory was caused by a member of management who contracted the virus from a close relative.
NHS Tayside said last night there were now nine positive cases linked to the factory, with one other person awaiting the results of a test.
There are a further two connected cases in the community.
Police were called to the 2 Sisters poultry plant at Coupar Angus early yesterday, after a late-night decision by bosses to close down production.
When one employee – a manager – tested positive on Friday, the company said it would keep the George Street facility running, with robust safety measures in place.
When the number of cases began to rise on Sunday night, the firm said it had no option but to close.
Police officers were at the factory just after 5am to “support the closure” and prevent staff from entering.
Many of the 700-strong workforce are bussed into town or travel from other parts of Tayside and Fife.
Arrangements have now been made to test employees. All close contacts are being advised to self-isolate, while other identified contacts are being followed up.
An Incident Management Team (IMT) is working with the Scottish Government, Public Health Scotland and local environmental health teams to provide advice and support.
The Courier understands the initial infection came from a manager, who caught the virus from a family member who does not work at the factory.
Deputy First Minister and local MSP John Swinney said: “This is concerning news for factory employees, as well as those living in Coupar Angus and the surrounding areas. Given that workers travel to the factory from many different geographic locations, it is essential that the correct contact tracing procedures are followed. Additionally, it is important that adequate support is given to workers and families affected by the temporary closure of the plant.”
A spokesman for 2 Sisters said: “Following the confirmation on August 16 of four positive Covid-19 cases at our site in Coupar Angus, we have decided to temporarily suspend operations and pause production, which we believe is the responsible action to take.
“Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of all colleagues, and we will be reviewing the situation closely in partnership with the relevant regional and national Scottish Covid-19 taskforces before we restart production.”
For numerous reasons food processing plants have proved to be fertile ground for Covid-19. Several major facilities in the UK and overseas have been hit by outbreaks that have brought production to a halt and led to wider community concerns.
Over the course of the weekend it emerged that the 2 Sisters poultry plant at Coupar Angus – a facility with draws staff from all across Tayside and which produces meat products for many of the major supermarkets – had registered its first case of coronavirus.
The company insisted it was on top of the situation and that quarantining of the affected employee would allow productionto continue as normal.
But by Sunday night, with four cases identified at the plant, it was clear that a different tack was required.
As the Aberdeen cluster that led to the city being placed back in lockdown has shown, you can never be too careful with Covid.
It is a highly infectious and potentialy deadly virus that, given half a chance, will run riot.
In the circumstances, the move to shut down the plant was the only responsible course of action.
The economic impact of the closure – which will no doubt be weighing heavily on the workforce – and disruption to supply chains are secondary considerations here.
What is paramount is the health and safety of the workforce and protecting the community at large.