August 25, 2020

Employees at chicken factory in UK under quarantine following COVID-19 cases

Workers at a chicken factory in Norfolk county, East Anglia, the United Kingdom,  are under quarantine or are expected to be tested following recent COVID-19 cases.

Seven workers at the Banham Poultry processing plant in Attleborough have tested positive for the virus. All seven are now isolating for 14 days. A further five workers are also isolating while they await test results.

Testing of a further number of staff is being arranged at the Banham Poultry site as a precautionary measure.

Louise Smith, director of public health for Norfolk, said health officials were "monitoring the situation and taking action" to prevent further transmission both at the factory site and in the wider community."

"We are working with colleagues at Public Health England, the NHS and Breckland Council following an outbreak of the coronavirus at Banham Poultry in Attleborough," Smith said.

"The management team at Banham Poultry has acted quickly to help prevent the spread of the virus and is working closely with us to trace the contacts of those who have tested positive."

Banham Poultry's factory facility, which is close to the centre of Attleborough and adjacent to the town's railway station, will continue to operate, the company said, adding that it is "doing everything" it can to keep potential infections under control.

Blaine van Rensburg, managing director of Banham Poultry said: "The safety of our staff, customers, and the wider public is really important to us and we are working with public health authorities to make sure we are doing absolutely everything we can and following all of the correct procedures.

"We have already invested in a range of procedures and protective equipment to keep our staff as safe as possible."

- Eastern Daily Press