Staff return to chicken factory hit by covid-19 cluster

A Perthshire chicken factory has reopened after a covid-19 cluster saw 164 staff members and 24 community contacts test positive with the virus

The 2 sisters plant in Coupar Angus has been closed for the past two weeks to try contain the outbreak.

It's now been given the all-clear to reopen to staff on Monday 31st August and to begin production on Tuesday 1st September.

The factory has undergone a deep clean, has enhanced measures in place and COVID-19 awareness training is being given to staff.

The factory has 1200 workers – 900 employees and 300 agency workers.

A spokesperson for 2 Sisters Food Group said: “Working closely with the incident management team, NHS Tayside and the local authority, we have been working hard during the temporary closure to supplement our existing COVID-19 control measures to keep all colleagues safe.”

Last week Tay FM News revealed some workers had broken self-isolation rules.

Staff are being given full COVID-19 “awareness training” before production resumes. The awareness training includes guidance on how to conduct themselves outside the factory with training on best practice in shared households and transport to and from work.

The spokesperson said: “Whilst it is important to ensure our measures on site are robust and working, we believe it is also critically important for our people to understand their obligations away from the factory in the local community, which our initial analysis suggests has played a significant role in the transmission of the virus.

“In addition to a series of enhanced measures, colleagues will also receive training and best practice guides on issues ranging from transport arrangements, conduct in the community, to keeping COVID-safe in a shared household. We expect each and every colleague to take personal responsibility for their own behaviours outside of work.

“As one of the largest employers in the area, we are more than aware of our responsibility in the community to ensure we act with care to ensure everyone’s health, safety and wellbeing.”

Workers who contracted COVID-19 have also been warned not to assume they are now immune to the virus.

The spokesperson said: “We also realise there will be colleagues who have tested positive and may believe this provides them with some level of immunity. The reality is that we don’t know this to be true, so our teams will be making sure everyone knows we all have a shared responsibility to protect each of us and our wider community from any further outbreak.”

Dr Emma Fletcher, associate director of public health and the chair of the IMT said: “The majority of staff will be able to return from Monday, August 31. However, those who have had positive tests themselves, or those who live with a positive case, must follow the specific self-isolation guidance they have been given and not return to work until their period of isolation is over.

“The IMT also considered the reintroduction of indoor care home visiting across Tayside which was paused on Monday, August 24. After careful consideration, we agreed that this pause on indoor visiting should continue currently to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect care home residents, staff and their families.”

Dr Fletcher said this decision would be reviewed at some point this week.

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