An award-winning Perth butcher shop has been forced to temporarily close its doors after two members of staff tested positive for coronavirus.
The DG Lindsay and Son’s store in the city centre will shut for two weeks while employees are in self-isolation.
It follows three positive cases at Simon Howie Butchers’ main factory in Dunning.
Covid-19 cases confirmed among employees at butcher Simon Howie’s Perthshire factory
A statement issued by DG Lindsay, which has received national accolades for its steak pies, said: “We regret to inform you that we have two cases of Covid-19 among our staff, and therefore we will closing for two weeks to self-isolate.
“All going well, we aim to reopen for business on the week commencing Monday, November 16.”
He said: “We’re extremely sorry for the inconvenience that this may cause. We’ve done our best up until now, but this is out of our control.”
Customers at the North Methven Street store have been greeted with a sign in the window, stating the shop is shut “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
The Food Standards Agency has stated there is no evidence that food can be a source of the virus, and it is “very unlikely” Covid-19 can be transmitted through food or packaging.
A spokeswoman for Perth and Kinross Council said: “We are aware of the cases affecting a Perth butchers’ shop and can confirm there appears to be no link to cases at a similar business in Dunning.”
It is the third high-profile food factory in the region to confirm coronavirus cases after an outbreak at the 2 Sisters chicken factory in Coupar Angus resulted in over 200 cases connected to the plant.
Between August and September, 174 factory workers and 26 community contacts tested positive for the virus at 2 Sisters resulting in the factory shutting down for 14 days and hundreds of employees and their households forced into self-isolation.
