Kirklees Council ramp up efforts to reduce coronavirus after meat factory outbreak

Kirklees Council is working closely with Kober Ltd to manage the outbreak as quickly as possible and limit the spread of the virus.
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The council is also working with Public Health England offering the meat factory's workforce testing after 165 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19.

The testing is likely to have identified people who had mild illness, or even some not showing symptoms who may have otherwise gone undetected and could have infected others.

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Rachel Spencer-Henshall, Director of Public Health at Kirklees Council, said: “I’d like to thank Kober Ltd for acting quickly and working with us and Public Health England to help manage this outbreak.

Clusters of coronavirus infections have emerged at meat-processing plants around the world. (Photo Shutterstock)Clusters of coronavirus infections have emerged at meat-processing plants around the world. (Photo Shutterstock)
Clusters of coronavirus infections have emerged at meat-processing plants around the world. (Photo Shutterstock)

“They reopened their factory on 23 June on a reduced capacity and only colleagues that have been tested and declared fit to return are on site.

“We’re satisfied with health and safety measures on site which include separation of colleagues on different shifts and as an additional precaution, checking the temperature of colleagues before they enter the site.

“Our advice to residents is to continue to socially distance, wash hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap and water and get tested if they have symptoms.

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“Providing you have not been contacted and told otherwise, you can continue to leave the house following the latest government advice.”

Exterior of Kober Ltd, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, which is temporarily closed due to an outbreak of Covid-19 at the meat packing factory owned by AsdaExterior of Kober Ltd, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, which is temporarily closed due to an outbreak of Covid-19 at the meat packing factory owned by Asda
Exterior of Kober Ltd, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, which is temporarily closed due to an outbreak of Covid-19 at the meat packing factory owned by Asda

These positive cases are being followed up by the NHS Test and Trace programme and they are being advised to self-isolate for 7 days.

Anyone identified as a close contact of a positive case is being advised to self-isolate for 14 days.

The detection of outbreaks of COVID-19 are now likely to become more common across the country with the introduction of NHS Test and Trace. This case in Kirklees is an early example of this new system being implemented.

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The Leader of Kirklees Council, Clr Shabir Pandor, added: “Outbreaks of Covid-19 are likely to become a fact of life across the country but we are in a really strong position already here in Kirklees to take immediate action, contain the infection and save lives.”

As soon as the council became aware of this issue, it has stated it acted quickly to work with Public Heath England as well as the business and their staff to limit any further potential spread.

The council said it is testing the whole workforce and tracing and contacting everyone who is a contact of a positive case.

According to Government guidance, the period of self isolation for any contact is 14 days. We will be working with the workplace until that period of time has ended to ensure all the relevant action has been taken.

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The detection of outbreaks of Covid-19 are now likely to become more common across the country with the introduction of Test and Trace.

This case in Kirklees is an early example of this new system being implemented.

Latest information says no-one who has tested positive is seriously ill or has died.

Health chiefs have said disclosing the location does not help combat the spread of infection and could actually have a negative impact on us fighting the virus.

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Businesses are urged to act in the same responsible way as this one has done because it has helped us contain the spread in the fastest way possible.

People who might have come into contact with an infected individual, relating to this or any other outbreak or case will be contacted directly. Everyone needs to continue to socially distance, wash hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap and water and get tested if they have symptoms.

The test and trace process would identify contacts of all the cases. If school children are affected they will be self-isolating as part of their bubble to keep schools safe.

Latest government social distancing advice can be found here.