28 workers at Walkers Leicester crisp factory test positive for coronavirus 

Walkers has today confirmed 28 positive cases of Covid-19 at its factory in Leicester.

The firm, which employs 1,400 people across the site in the Beaumont Leys area of the city, said it had seen a ‘steady increase’ in the number of confirmed cases during June.

Walkers claimed its track and trace procedure indicated the transmission of the virus was ‘not in our factory’.

The company claims the rise ‘coincides with the roll-out and uptake of testing’ in Leicester.

The firm, which employs 1,400 people across the site in the Beaumont Leys area of the city, said it had seen a ‘steady increase’ in the number of confirmed cases during June

A spokesperson said: ‘We have shared our data and analysis with the health authorities and they support the view that our situation reflects transmission in the community and we do not have a transmission issue on site.

‘In light of the recent increase in cases in Leicester, we have been proactively reinforcing the importance of continued vigilance on site.’

The company added employees with a confirmed or suspected case of Covid-19 were self-isolating on full pay.

A number of other food processing plants in Leicester have had confirmed cases of the infection, including Samworth Brothers and Pladis, which makes biscuits for McVities.

Leicester became the first UK city to be placed back into lockdown on Monday night, after 944 new cases were identified in the last two weeks.