Urgent clarification must be provided following confirmation of COVID-19 cases among workers at ABP in Clones, Co Monaghan, Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on agriculture Matt Carthy has said.
Two workers at the Clones meat plant have tested positive for COVID-19 and all staff members at the plant are now being tested for the virus. Some 350 people are employed at the factory.
Carthy said: "Concern centres on the fact that the ABP plant remains open despite the fact that all other workers have not yet been tested. This does not make any sense.”
Local concern
The Monaghan TD said that the local community were rightly concerned that operations were continuing at the plant before test results on remaining staff were delivered.
Carthy continued: “Many of those who have contacted me from the local area have expressed concern that lessons have not been learned.
"We know that the failure to act fast when previous Covid-19 cases were identified at food processing plants resulted in serious outbreaks in the wider community and led to further restrictions being put in place in Kildare, Laois and Offaly.”
Full account
Carthy has said it is imperative that the Health and Safety Authority, the HSE and the Department of Agriculture provide full information as to the status of the confirmed cases, their respective actions to date, and why a meat plant can continue operations following confirmed cases.
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Urgent clarification must be provided following confirmation of COVID-19 cases among workers at ABP in Clones, Co Monaghan, Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on agriculture Matt Carthy has said.
Two workers at the Clones meat plant have tested positive for COVID-19 and all staff members at the plant are now being tested for the virus. Some 350 people are employed at the factory.
Carthy said: "Concern centres on the fact that the ABP plant remains open despite the fact that all other workers have not yet been tested. This does not make any sense.”
Local concern
The Monaghan TD said that the local community were rightly concerned that operations were continuing at the plant before test results on remaining staff were delivered.
Carthy continued: “Many of those who have contacted me from the local area have expressed concern that lessons have not been learned.
"We know that the failure to act fast when previous Covid-19 cases were identified at food processing plants resulted in serious outbreaks in the wider community and led to further restrictions being put in place in Kildare, Laois and Offaly.”
Full account
Carthy has said it is imperative that the Health and Safety Authority, the HSE and the Department of Agriculture provide full information as to the status of the confirmed cases, their respective actions to date, and why a meat plant can continue operations following confirmed cases.
Read more
Two cases of COVID-19 at ABP Clones
Eight new cases of COVID-19 confirmed at ABP Cahir
Four virus cases at Rosderra
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