ABOUT a quarter of staff at 2 Sisters’ Llangefni processing plant are isolating following an outbreak, according to trade union Unite.
In total, it said 110 people were self-isolating following 13 confirmed cases of coronavirus at the Anglesey processing site.
Last week, we reported that three cases had been confirmed on the site.
The first case is understood to have emerged at the end of May following three months in which the plant was clear of covid-19.
2 Sisters has said it is “working to provide the safest possible environment” for staff members, but that it would not provide “running commentaries” or “disclose employee data” regarding exact case numbers.
‘Frightening times’
“It’s clearly very frightening times, and people are concerned,” said Unite regional organiser Paddy McNaught.
“But we’re doing all we can to support those staff through our reps on-site and with the company to make it as safe an environment as possible”.
The union has called for a range of measures, including a mobile testing unit to be installed on-site, to allow staff to get tested more quickly.
There are no live cases at 2 Sisters’ Sandycroft site at present, which is along the North Wales coast in Deeside, the BBC reported.
‘Safest possible workplace’
“As a responsible business our 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,” a 2 Sisters spokesman said.
“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.
“A rigorous track and trace process has also ensured all affected colleagues are self-isolating as a precaution.
“As a company policy, we will confirm cases but will not provide running commentaries nor disclose employee data.”
