165 workers at Kober meat processing plant in Kirklees tested positive for coronavirus

The Kober plant in Cleckheaton, which is owned by Asda, was closed after the cluster emerged.

It was confirmed last week after Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the Downing Street press briefing there had been a localised outbreak in the Kirklees area.

The cluster is one of a number of outbreaks at meat processing plants in the UK and elsewhere.

On Thursday, Kirklees Council confirmed the plant had reopened and that a total of 165 people had tested positive.

In a statement, it said the council, Public Health England and the firm have worked closely together to manage the outbreak as quickly as possible and limit the spread of the virus.

It said: “The whole workforce has been offered testing and 165 individuals have tested positive for Covid-19.

“The testing is likely to have identified people who had mild illness or even some not showing symptoms who may have otherwise gone undetected and could have infected others.”

A spokesman said the positive cases are being followed up by the NHS Test and Trace programme.

Rachel Spencer-Henshall, director of public health at Kirklees Council, said: “I’d like to thank Kober for acting quickly and working with us and Public Health England to help manage this outbreak.

“They reopened their factory on June 23 on a reduced capacity and only colleagues that have been tested and declared fit to return are on site.

“We’re satisfied with health and safety measures on site which include separation of colleagues on different shifts and, as an additional precaution, checking the temperature of colleagues before they enter the site.”

In a statement, Asda said: “We have worked collaboratively with Kirklees Council and Public Health England since the site closed over a week ago and they support our decision to reopen this week.

“The site will reopen on a reduced capacity and only colleagues that have been tested and declared fit to return will be on site. Those colleagues who are self-isolating will continue to receive full pay until they return to work.

“Whilst Kirklees Council were satisfied with our existing safety procedures, we have introduced some additional measures as a precaution. These include separation of colleagues on different shifts and checking the temperature of colleagues before they enter the site.”

Two hundred cases of coronavirus have also been confirmed at the 2 Sisters chicken processing plant in Llangefni, Anglesey.

In Germany, Europe’s largest meat processing plant suffered a Covid-19 outbreak which resulted in approximately 7,000 people being quarantined.

Environment Secretary George Eustice told the Commons on Thursday that the outbreaks of Covid-19 at three meat processing factories in England and Wales are thought to be linked to canteens and car-sharing schemes.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson admitted he is unsure what is causing outbreaks of coronavirus in meat processing plants.

He said one theory is that the cold environment in such factories may be helping Covid-19 while another is that staff could be “congregating in such a way as to spread the virus”.