New covid hotspot as 73 workers who live together in trailers test positive for coronavirus at a Herefordshire vegetable farm that supplies Tesco, Aldi, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Asda and M&S – and another 200 staff are forced to isolate on site
- 200 workers at A S Green And Co are being asked to self-isolate on the site in Mathon, near Malvern
- Mass testing was carried out after some workers showed symptoms of the bug
- Visitors and management team members were also tested, which were negative
200 workers at a vegetable farm in Herefordshire are forced to isolate in onsite mobile homes after 73 workers tested positive for coronavirus.
Workers at A S Green And Co were tested carried out after some workers showed symptoms of the bug.
No workers at the site in Mathon, near Malvern, are being permitted to leave and are receiving the required support on the site.
The farm supplies vegetables to Tesco, Aldi, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Asda and M&S.
Visitors and management team members were also tested and the company confirmed all results to date outside of their site have been negative.
Workers at A S Green And Co were tested carried out after some workers showed symptoms of the bug (stock photo)
The site is still waiting on all the results but 73 positive cases are confirmed so far.
Workers live onsite in mobile homes which all have toilets, showers and kitchen facilities and participants share the accommodation.
In a statement posted on its website, the company said: ‘We confirm that we are working closely with, Public Health England and the Public Health team at Herefordshire Council to support a number of our workers that have tested positive for COVID-19.
‘As a precautionary measure we have arranged for testing of additional key workers including management team members and visitors connected with A S Green and can confirm all results to date outside of our site have been returned with negative results. To date there are 73 positive cases on our site.
200 workers at the vegetable farm have been asked to self isolate in mobile homes onsite after 73 people tested positive for coronavirus
The site is still waiting on all the results but 73 positive cases are confirmed so far (stock photo)
‘Our site is currently closed for all visitors and with the assistance of the various bodies no workers are being permitted to leave our site and are receiving the required support at our site.
‘Our work force and local community are our priority at this difficult time and we continue to follow the guidance of the relevant bodies to ensure that the spread of the virus is controlled and our workforce is supported.
‘Public Health England advises that it is very unlikely Covid-19 can be transmitted through food or food packaging, so shoppers can remain confident buying British fruit and veg.’
The company said that Public Health England advises that it is very unlikely Covid-19 can be transmitted through food or food packaging (stock photo)
A S Green And Co specialise in growing runner beans, Tenderstem broccoli, broad beans and helda beans
PHE Midlands Health Protection Director Katie Spence said: ‘A small number of workers became symptomatic earlier this week and they and a few close contacts among the workforce were tested initially and found to be positive.’
She added that affected individuals were asked to self-isolate for seven days, with their households and close contacts being asked to isolate for 14 days, in line with NHS guidance.
The outbreak comes after lockdown was extended for at least two weeks in Leicester, east midlands, after a surge in coronavirus cases.
Number 10’s scientific advisers revealed on July 10 that the UK’s R rate is between 0.7 and 0.9.
The R rate represents the average number of people each Covid-19 patient infects and SAGE admitted it could be one or higher in London, the Midlands, the North East and Yorkshire, the South East and the South West.
A S Green And Co specialise in growing runner beans, Tenderstem broccoli, broad beans and helda beans.