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A large number of workers have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus in the Rosderra Edenderry plant in Co Offaly.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that it is mainly the workers in the boning hall who have been affected.
The plant employs roughly 450 people and is one of five major plants for pig exports. Concerns are growing it could be closed, however it is understood to still be operational.
Rosderra has previously said that they had put measures in place to ensure the safety of their workforce after HSE testing was carried out on their workers in their Roscrea plant.
A number of temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs) are understood to have pulled out of shiftwork at Edenderry and the Department of Agriculture has stepped in to help with the supply of veterinary staff.
In a statement from the company, Rosderra said they had informed all staff experiencing symptoms not to come to work when feeling ill or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
“We are extremely thankful to report that the employees that tested positive are recovering well or have recovered and returned to work,” Rosderra said.
“We continue to be extremely vigilant with our protective measures for infection control - including supervised distancing, mandatory face coverings for all employees on all sites, temperature screening and a staggered approach to breaks and start times to reduce the possibility of gatherings.”
‘Serious’ situation in meat plants
This newspaper previously reported a rise in the number of clusters in meat plants, with 12 reported by the Department of Health on Wednesday 12 May.
Fianna Fáil leader Michéal Martin said that the situation in factories was “gravely serious” and called for production to be halted in plants to allow for a deep clean while new control measures were put in place.
“Simply sending workers back to work – and indeed not testing their families does not make sense, particularly given the Minister’s assurance that testing capacity is not an issue,” Martin said.
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