The Irish Farmers Journal understands that the beef and sheep processing lines at Kildare Chilling are temporarily closed following an outbreak of COVID-19 among workers.

Sources confirmed that the factory had suspended the beef and sheep kill on Tuesday evening and was moving perishable product as quickly as possible.

This newspaper was told that the number of workers who had tested positive was “significant” and the kill lines would be shut while more workers were tested.

It is understood the company is working closely with the HSE and that full contact tracing has been undertaken.

One Carlow sheep farmer described the news as a “terrible blow to the farming community”, while another farmer said he had been turned away from the factory on Tuesday with 50 lambs.

“Kildare Chilling told me they would not be quoting for the foreseeable future,” the farmer said. “To take them out of the equation leaves very little competition in terms of getting a good price.”

Meat Industry Ireland (MII) said the Kildare Chilling cases were the first positive cases the industry had seen in a number of weeks.

“Protocols are robust and every possible measure is being deployed in processing facilities. Continued vigilance is critical,” MII said.

Over 1,000 workers in meat factories have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic reached Ireland.

Acting chief medical officer Ronan Glynn has outlined that a further 47 cases were in meat processing plants in the last week, with further worker tests still pending.

Recent outbreaks involving food processing include pork processor Carroll’s Cuisine and Irish Dog Foods.

Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy said the Health and Safety Authority had a responsibility to ensure measures were “robustly monitored and that factory staff and the public are not exposed to any unnecessary risk”.

Following the recent Oireachtas committee on COVID-19 in meat plants, SIPTU and MII are to meet for the first time next Monday.

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