Serial testing of asymptomatic meat and food processing factory workers recommenced on Monday 14 September, the HSE has confirmed.

A HSE spokesperson said the serial testing is based on a four-week schedule. The programme began on 21 August and three days of testing were rescheduled last week so that testing could be focused on community testing.

“Those facilities or areas that are deemed higher risk have been scheduled as early as possible within the four-week programme,” she told the Irish Farmers Journal.

Outbreak testing

The HSE said in the case where an outbreak occurs in a meat or food processing facility, then outbreak mass testing will still occur. Public health teams will be in touch locally in those situations.

“If a plant has confirmed cases, there is a public health assessment which determines what interventions are required and the subsequent frequency of testing,” the HSE spokesperson said.

“In the meantime, if a staff member develops symptoms of coronavirus, we would ask them to self-isolate and phone a GP to be referred for a free coronavirus test.”

Dawn Meats

On Thursday morning, Dawn Meats said it would not be commenting on test results in individual plants and all staff who were self-isolating in line with HSE advice were being paid.

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