Sandwich factory that supplies M&S is forced to close for at least two weeks after 292 staff test positive for Covid
- The Greencore Factory in Northampton employs more than 2,100 people
- It will close from today with staff having to now isolate at home for 14 days
- It was announced last week that 292 people had tested positive for Covid-19
A sandwich factor that supplies Marks & Spencer has been forced to close for at least two weeks after a Covid-19 outbreak among staff.
The Greencore Factory in Northampton, that employs more than 2,100 people, will close from Friday, with staff and members of their households having to isolate for 14 days.
It was announced last week that 292 people had tested positive for Covid-19 after an outbreak linked to the sandwich factory.
The Department of Health said that local testing data and analysis from the Joint Biosecurity Centre had shown a spike in cases in the area to be almost solely down to the outbreak.
Greencore, which supplies M&S, said production is ‘continuing as usual’ at the plant and said it had no concerns about any of its products. Members of staff are pictured outside the factory today
The department said: ‘The factory will close voluntarily from today and employees and their direct households will be required to isolate at home for two weeks.
‘The Health Secretary will introduce regulations to ensure that this self-isolation period is legally enforced. Anyone who leaves isolation prior to the two-week period ending without reasonable excuse will be subject to fines.’
Lucy Wightman, Northamptonshire County Council’s director of public health, last week said 1,300 of the 2,100-strong workforce had already been swabbed for the virus.
The firm, thought to be the world’s largest maker of sandwiches, took the decision to proactively test workers as a result of a rise in cases in the town.
The firm told Sky News in a statement: ‘Greencore can confirm that, in consultation with the Department of Health & Social Care, PHE and other government bodies, it has taken the decision to temporarily cease production at its Northampton facility from the end of today as a result of the ongoing outbreak in the Northampton area and at the site.
Greencore in Northampton said nearly 300 staff there have tested positive for Covid-19 and are self-isolating
Food factories have hosted an unusually high number of Covid-19 outbreaks around the world and experts say the cold, sunless environments, cramped working conditions and staff who are more likely to use public transport may be ideal for the virus to spread.
The Food Standards Agency says it is ‘clear that it remains very unlikely that people can catch Covid-19 from food. Covid-19 is a respiratory illness and not known to be transmitted by exposure to food or food packaging’.
The website said Greencore’s sites have wide-ranging social-distancing measures, stringent hygiene procedures and regular temperature checking in place.