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Fourteen new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at ABP Clones in Co Monaghan.
Last week, two workers tested positive for the virus at the factory and, following the screening of all 335 staff, ABP has been notified of an additional 14 positive cases at the facility.
All close work contacts of those affected are currently self-isolating, a spokesperson for ABP told the Irish Farmers Journal.
The Clones plant currently kills between 1,200 and 1,500 cattle weekly.
Limiting operations
ABP has introduced a variety of protection measures against coronavirus as part of a company-wide initiative that began in March.
“A comprehensive range of measures were introduced on notification of these cases including the self-isolation of workplace contacts and limiting the operation at the site.
“We are continually evolving and improving the measures to ensure safety at all our sites,” the spokesperson said.
Over 400 cases
There have been over 400 cases of COVID-19 confirmed at meat plants, dairy processors and horticulture facilities since the start of August.
Kildare Chilling has been slowly reopening since last week, but is still operating at a reduced capacity.
With 168 cases, it has one of the highest outbreaks in an Irish meat factory, but not as high as the 214 cases in one factory revealed earlier this year in NPHET documents.
Testing
There is still some concern within the food industry over the capacity of the HSE to return tests in a timely manner.
NPHET’s Professor Philip Nolan told the Oireachtas Committee on Wednesday that 59% of positive cases in meat plants were asymptomatic, which tallied with international results in similar workplace settings.
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