Some 38 cases of COVID-19 have now been identified among workers at ABP Cahir following testing of 460 staff.

In addition to nine positive cases identified last week, a further number of cases were identified this week. Some 16 of the cases were close contacts of the first cases identified in the factory.

Limited capacity

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“As a precaution the site has been operating at a limited capacity since the first positive test on 14 August. The company continues to work in close collaboration with the HSE,” a spokesperson for the company said.

“Since the advent of COVID-19, ABP has introduced a variety of industry leading protection measures as part of a company-wide initiative that began in March.”

They said that staff health and safety remained a priority for the company.

Mass testing

There has been considerable media scrutiny of COVID-19 outbreaks in the meat industry, with at least 26 clusters identified throughout the country.

The Government has unrolled a weekly testing programme in meat factories and dairy plants to help combat the issue of outbreaks.

Mass testing has taken place this week in ABP Clones after two cases were identified. It’s also understood that mass testing of staff has taken place in Kildare Chilling and Rosderra Edenderry.

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Eight new cases of COVID-19 confirmed at ABP Cahir

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