Coronavirus outbreak confirmed at Pilgrim’s Pride meat factory

A coronavirus outbreak has been confirmed at a meat factory in Cornwall where over 170 staff have tested positive.

Pigrim’s Pride in Pool, who employs around 500 people, said most of the people with confirmed cases displayed little to no symptoms.

Cornwall Council confirmed those staff members with Covid-19 were now isolating in line with government regulations.

Rachel Wigglesworth, interim director for Public Health for Cornwall Council, added: “In finding people who weren’t displaying symptoms we have potentially stopped much wider spread in our communities.

“We’ve quickly identified and tested hundreds of people, and in finding people who weren’t displaying symptoms we have potentially stopped much wider spread in our communities. We continue to closely monitor the situation and appreciate the cooperation of Pilgrim’s Pride Ltd. and their employees.”

The Pilgrim’s Pride outbreaks follows many food factory outbreaks reported across the UK since August, last week an employee at an Aunt Bessie’s plant in Hull died after contracting Covid-19.

In August, sandwich makers Greencore in Northamptonshire, alongside chicken factories Banham Poultry in Norfolk and 2 Sisters in Scotland all confirmed outbreaks.

As of Wednesday, 30th September 7,108 new cases have been confirmed, with 71 who tested positive for coronavirus have died in past 24 hours.