Coronavirus UK: Chicken factory closes as 75 workers infected

A huge chicken factory in Norfolk is closing and 350 families have been forced into self-isolation after 75 workers tested positive for coronavirus.

Banham Poultry in the village of Attleborough has voluntarily agreed to close its cutting room tomorrow following an outbreak of the disease. 

The first case of Covid was reported last Friday, when one worker said they felt unwell. By Monday, seven out of 15 tested were found to have the virus. 

Officials claim that any potential geographical spread of the virus from Banham Poultry, which employs 1,100 people, is low.

However, the outbreak has sparked fears that Norfolk will be plunged back into lockdown – with the county the subject of a central government review tomorrow. 

It comes as Britain today recorded 16 more coronavirus deaths as Scotland’s six-week run of no fatalities was ended with the announcement of two new victims. 

In other coronavirus developments in Britain today:

• Two dozen of the UK’s biggest employers, from banks to retailers, revealed they have no plans to imminently bring all staff back to the office full-time;
• Teachers have warned Boris Johnson his face masks U-turn risks creating chaos in schools amid fears pupils will bully each other over their choice of covering;
• Gavin Williamson insisted he did not force the boss of exam regulator Ofqual to resign in the wake of Number 10’s A-level and GCSE results debacle;
• Cambridge University has joined the global race to find a coronavirus vaccine and could begin clinical trials of its experimental technology within months. 

Banham Poultry in the village of Attleborough will shut its cutting room tomorrow morning as the factory voluntarily agrees to close following an outbreak of coronavirus

It comes as Britain today recorded 16 more coronavirus deaths as Scotland’s six-week run of no fatalities was ended with the announcement of two new victims

Dr Louise Smith, director of Public Health England in Norfolk, told the Eastern Daily Press that she was ruling out an immediate local lockdown.

She said: ‘At this point what we are doing is a very specific localised lockdown to a very specific setting, the who work there and their households.

‘We do not anticipate the need for a geographical or town-based lockdown at this stage and we would only move to that kind of measure if we were getting evidence of spread in the general public that could not be linked to a specific location, such as this outbreak.

‘We are not at that level at this stage and the background level of infection in Norfolk outside of this outbreak is low.’ 

However, the Government could decide in a review tomorrow to overrule local chiefs and shut the chicken factory completely. 

Norfolk County Council is understood to be considering whether they need to speak with other meat factories in the county.

In a statement yesterday, Banham Poultry’s managing director Blaine van Rensburg said the management team was working to prevent any further spread.

‘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,’ he said. 

Norfolk County Council, which sent letters to 450,000 Norfolk homes just last week reminding people that coronavirus was ‘still with us’, urged people concerned about contracting the virus is to ‘remember the basics’. 

Steve Morphew, leader of the opposition Labour group at Norfolk County Council, said: ‘This outbreak shows the critical importance of making sure we learn the lessons and ensure there are enough resources to respond swiftly.

‘We know delays are costly in every sense so we must make sure our public health team can do the job we need from them.’

The outbreak has sparked fears that Norfolk will be plunged back into lockdown – with the county the subject of a central government review tomorrow 

Dr Louise Smith, director of Public Health England in Norfolk, told the Eastern Daily Press that she was ruling out an immediate local lockdown in the county

Attleborough mayor Philip Leslie said he had expected to see an increase in confirmed cases, but moved to reassure the town’s residents.

He said: ‘They have tested all 300 staff which I think has been exceptional – we are very grateful for public health England, their quick response and the way they have escalated resources to tackle it. However, it will raise eyebrows within the community to see such a large number of confirmed cases. 

‘So the main thing for us as a town council, is to keep on top of the situation and reassure that residents it seems to be isolated at Banham Poultry alone. 

‘We will remain vigilant and keep following government guidance. But we also need to have good practice within our homes as well. 

‘People are becoming a little lax and don’t follow rules in their own homes.

‘We need to work hard at recognising that this is still a real issue. 

‘We don’t have the vaccine in place yet or the long-term solution so we need to treat it as seriously we did a few months ago. We as a community are keeping our ears to the ground and ready to act on advice that comes.’