Covid cluster at Brechin nursery being linked to pig factory outbreak
We can reveal seven people connected to Playspaces, including children, have tested positive
Last updated 27th Jan 2021
A cluster of coronavirus cases at a Brechin nursery are being linked to an outbreak at the town's pig slaughterhouse.
We can reveal seven people connected to Playspaces, including children, have tested positive. Bosses made the decision after a staff member tested positive on Sunday.
Since then two others, as well as two kids and two parents have also caught the virus. Families were contacted yesterday to advise their children should be self-isolating until next Monday.
Playspaces Owner Mark Mitchell said: "I can confirm that Playspaces Nursery Brechin has had five confirmed positive tests for Covid - 19 linked to our setting and we are aware of a further two cases which may be linked to our setting.
"I made the decision to close the nursery on Sunday 24th January after our first member of staff tested positive.
"Our staff and children are now isolating and we hope to re-open next week."
This comes as 34 cases are being connected to the Quality Pork Processors plant.
NHS Tayside has confirmed this does not include the seven cases linked to one of the town's nurseries, but we understand health officials are connecting the cluster to the plant.
Associate Director of Public Health and chair of the Incident Management Team (IMT), Dr Ellie Hothersall, said, “34 cases of COVID-19 connected to the Quality Pork Processors in Brechin have now been identified. This was an expected increase, with the additional positive cases already self-isolating.
“The processing factory is working closely with NHS Tayside’s Public Health team, Food Standards Scotland and Angus Council Environmental Health Team and all arrangements for contact tracing and self-isolation are in place.
“The management team at the processing factory have informed the IMT that the Quality Pork Processors Board have made the decision to temporarily halt operations at the site for a two week period.
“The multi-agency IMT will continue to keep the situation under close review.”