Coronavirus: Chicken plant closes as 158 staff members test positive

Factory has contracts with thousands of UK supermarkets

More than 150 employees at a chicken plant in Anglesey, north Wales, have tested positive for coronavirus.

The 2 Sisters poultry processing factory, which has contracts with thousands of UK supermarkets, announced on Thursday that it would be temporarily suspending production at its Llangefni site for two weeks with immediate effect.

It said the decision was made following guidance from Public Health Wales (PHW), Anglesey Council, the Health & Safety Executive, FSA and the Unite union: “The health, safety and well-being of our colleagues is ultimately the thing that matters most at our business.”

All 560 staff members were asked to self-isolate for 14 days. On Saturday the food manufacturing company confirmed that 350 people had been tested, and 75 cases were confirmed positive.

A further 83 positive cases were identified over the 24 hours to 3pm on Sunday, bringing the total number of infections to 158.

Testing sites were set up at Llangefni and Holyhead, and at an existing facility in Bangor, following the outbreak.

PHW said the number of cases “is expected to increase as we continue to process samples taken from employees”.

Dr Christopher Johnson, consultant in health protection for PHW, said: “Since we commenced targeted testing last Thursday, over 400 members of staff have provided samples so far.

“Testing of employees continues, and it is likely that some additional cases will be identified in the coming days.”

He also commended the testing system, saying it was “working as it should be”, and reminded the public that they too have a “vital role” to play in “preventing the spread of coronavirus”.

2 Sisters is one of the largest food producers in the UK and processes about a third of all the poultry products eaten each day from its sites across Britain.

In its statement, the company concluded: “We will not tolerate any unnecessary risks – however small – for our existing loyal workforce at the facility.”