Quarter of staff at chicken factory supplying M&S are self-isolating amid coronavirus outbreak, unions say

Around a quarter of staff at major chicken processing factory are self-isolating following an outbreak of coronavirus, unions have said.

Thirteen workers have tested positive for Covid-19 at the 2 Sisters plant in Llangefni, North Wales, with 110 self-isolating as a precaution, BBC Wales Today reported.

Its owner 2 Sisters Food Group has not confirmed the number of cases, but efforts to tackle the “cluster” are being treated as a “priority”, union leaders have said.

The company is one of the largest food producers in the UK, owning the Fox’s Biscuits and Holland’s Pies brands, and counting Marks & Spencer among its high profile customers.

According to its website, 2 Sisters produces around a third of all poultry products eaten every day in the UK.

Paddy McNaught, regional officer for the Unite union, told BBC Wales: “It’s very frightening for the staff on site seeing all their colleagues being off work and so many people proving positive for having Covid-19.

“It’s clearly very frightening times and people are concerned, but we’re doing all we can to support those staff through our reps on site and with the company in taking actions to make it a safer environment as possible.”

A statement issued by Isle of Anglesey County Council said: “The North Wales Regional Test, Trace, Protect team is responding to the cluster of coronavirus cases at the 2 Sisters plant in Llangefni as a priority, and supporting the workplace.

“Key agencies including Public Health Wales, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Health and Safety Executive and both Anglesey and Gwynedd Councils are working together to support and advise the employer and those employees who have tested positive, together with their contacts.”

A spokesperson for 2 Sisters Food Group told the Standard its "key priority" is to "continue to provide the safest possible workplace and support all colleagues at Llangefni, as we have been doing successfully for three months without one single positive case reported at the site."

They added: "The health and safety of every colleague is of paramount importance to us, which is why we have had a series of measures in place for some time including regular and intensive deep cleaning and disinfecting regimes, the wearing of protective visors in production areas and implementing social distancing throughout the factory.

"We continually review and evolve these measures to reassure and protect all colleagues, and have redoubled our efforts since positive cases were confirmed. For instance we have now introduced thermal temperature checks on entry and employed marshalls to ensure social distancing is maintained in high traffic areas.

"As a company policy we will confirm cases but will not provide running commentaries nor disclose employee data.”

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