Covid outbreak: Bosses urged to clarify Angus factory closure
19 coronavirus cases have been detected at Quality Pork Processors - but it's unknown if the slaughterhouse will remain open.
Last updated 25th Jan 2021
Bosses at a Brechin pig factory fighting a coronavirus outbreak are being urged to tell the public if they'll stay open or not.
Health officials stepped in at Quality Pork Processors on Friday, where it was confirmed 19 coronavirus cases had been detected.
NHS Tayside has told us an update on the number of cases at the factory will be updated tomorrow.
Local councillor Gavin Nicol said it's leading to uncertainty among employees, some of whom had contacted him, saying they don't know if they should be turning up for work today.
"I've had several phone calls from concerned constituents, connected with the COVID-19 outbreak at the abattoir in Brechin.
They've had a distinct lack of information from the management and they're very concerned about whether they are to turn up to work today or not."
"This has not been handled well by QPP, in my opinion. The lack of information to the staff and the community is concerning."
"In my opinion this is likely to be one of the biggest single outbreaks in Angus, I would like them to come out and clarify what's been happening, and show that they have got concern for people of Brechin and the surrounding areas."
Quality Pork Processors is being urged to clarify if it'll be opening its doors to workers, or remain closed,
One of the 19 workers to test positive believes production at the factory ceased on Friday.
"Since last Monday night the place has been rife with coronavirus. 10 people were off on Tuesday, I've also been off since then, I've felt terrible," they said.
"There's no smoke coming out of the factory, so there's definitely no production. Our department is the coldest part of the plant, we're talking around two degrees celsius.
"There has been a lot of adhering to social distancing. There are at least a hundred hand sanitizers there, there's CCTV in place to make sure people wash their hands. If you get caught not washing you get disciplined."
The company has yet to comment on the outbreak - Tay News has approached them again for comment.
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