The specialised taskforce tackling the Covid-19 outbreak at the 2 Sisters factory in Coupar Angus has ended despite positive cases continuing to rise at the plant.
NHS Tayside announced the multi-agency incident management team (IMT) overseeing the cluster was being disbanded as confirmed coronavirus cases at the plant increased to 63.
Dr Emma Fletcher, chairwoman of the IMT, said the rise from 59 positive cases to 63 was “an expected increase” with many of the additional cases already self-isolating.
She said: “Sixty-three cases of Covid-19 connected to the 2 Sisters food processing plant have now been identified.
“The IMT remains reassured that the factory can remain open at this time.
“The factory is working closely with NHS Tayside’s Public Health team and Food Standards Scotland and all arrangements for contact tracing and self-isolation are in place.
Covid-19 cases at Coupar Angus chicken factory nearly double in five days
“Staff are being given appropriate advice and additional support from their relevant local authority if needed.
“The IMT is not planning to meet again and NHS Tayside’s Public Health team will keep the situation under close review.”
Conservative politicians have blamed the actions of a small minority of 2 Sisters staff members who attended an illegal Hogmanay party on the town for the number of cases continuing to increase.
Strathmore ward councillor Colin Stewart said: “Nearly ten months after the first lockdown, it really shouldn’t need to be said that people simply need to follow the guidance on social distancing, hand-washing and wearing face coverings in public.
“The 2 Sisters factory and Public Health appear to have a point about community transmission being higher, and affected numbers of staff being lower, which suggests this is not an issue inside the factory, but rather one of individual staff members outside the factory which is a matter for personal responsibility.”
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His colleague Murdo Fraser MSP added: “This shocking rise in cases of Covid in Coupar Angus all seems to stem from the illegal Hogmanay party, which was attended by some staff from the 2 Sisters Food Group plant in the town.
“This was very irresponsible behaviour and just underlines why people must follow the rules and guidance provided.”
The outbreak is the second time an IMT has been called in to deal with a Covid-19 cluster at the factory during the pandemic.
Last year the plant was forced to shutdown for a fortnight after more than 200 tests were connected to the food processing plant.
