Coronavirus outbreak confirmed at Yorkshire meat factory that supplies Asda

An outbreak of Covid-19 has been confirmed at a meat packing factory owned by Asda.
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Mobile testing tents have been set up outside Kober Ltd near Cleckheaton, which supplies the supermarket giant with bacon rashers and joints.

Asda bought the business outright through its Normanton-based company International Produce Limited in 2016, having used the supplier since 2011.

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Health secretary Matt Hancock announced the outbreak at today's Downing Street briefing during a discussion on the 'track and trace' system of local lockdowns, but did not specify where it was or give the name of the business.

Kober Ltd has now been shut downKober Ltd has now been shut down
Kober Ltd has now been shut down

Asda have shut the factory down while the outbreak is dealt with, and it is expected to re-open next week. Staff in self-isolation will receive full pay.

It is not known how many staff tested positive for Covid-19 or if there have been any hospitalisations or deaths as a result.

Around 100 contacts of workers have since been traced after a 'small number' of cases.

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In April, a Twitter user shared a photo of workers at the plant during a shift change, which showed groups congregating near parked cars appearing to be less than two metres apart.

The site, near junction 26 of the M62, supplies bacon to AsdaThe site, near junction 26 of the M62, supplies bacon to Asda
The site, near junction 26 of the M62, supplies bacon to Asda

Directors of public health said they were in the dark about what a local lockdown actually was, and whether they had the power to enact it.

However Mr Hancock said: “The system is already up and running. In fact, I chaired a meeting this morning of our local action committee, which is the formal process through which we make these decisions, working with local leaders, for instance, in Kirklees. And the local director of public health and the council are heavily involved in the response.”

But Batley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin criticised the way in which Mr Hancock had revealed the outbreak, which she said was “thoughtless, sloppy and unhelpful”.

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She said: “My anger is the way we were thrown to the wolves in that way.”

All staff have now been testedAll staff have now been tested
All staff have now been tested

But she added: “No one in Kirklees should be concerned. Having spoken to the council they’ve acted very swiftly, I’m proud of them but I’m really frustrated Matt Hancock took it on himself to announce it like that.”

Director of public health at Kirklees Council, Rachel Spencer-Henshall, said: “We were made aware of a number of positive cases of COVID-19 at a workplace in Kirklees. We have been providing support and advice to both the management and employees in order to minimise any further transmission.”

Kober is the second Yorkshire meat factory to confirm a coronavirus outbreak. Cranswick Convenience Foods in Wombwell, Barnsley, which also processes bacon, had nine confirmed cases in the spring. Three workers died and all but two were hospitalised.