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Food processing has been suspended at O'Brien Fine Foods based in Timahoe, Co Kildare, due to 80 confirmed cases of COVID-19 cases among staff.
The family-owned company specialises in cooked meat processing and is well known for its Brady Family Ham range.
A spokesperson for O’Brien Fine Foods confirmed on Thursday night that in recent days, an employee presented with COVID-19 symptoms.
“In line with our procedures, we immediately isolated the individual and initiated a test. Results received on 30 July confirmed that the person had tested positive for COVID-19 which, at that juncture, was our third confirmed case,” the spokesperson said.
“We initiated engagement with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and took what we believe was the most responsible decision to test all employees which was coordinated by the HSE and a private provider to expedite testing.”
Tests
Of the 243 tests completed, 80 people were confirmed as positive for COVID-19, with a high level of asymptomatic infectivity. Another 42 employees were tested on Wednesday.
“Those who have tested positive have been advised to isolate as per the official guidance and full risk assessment and contract tracing procedures are under way. All close contacts of those affected are being notified, advised to self-isolate and to contact their GP,” the company said, thanking customers and suppliers for their support.
A deep clean of the processing facility is under way and a full risk assessment process has begun.
The company detailed the precautions it has taken since the first cases of COVID-19 were identified in Ireland last February.
These included working from home for all non-operations staff, mandatory PPE, Perspex screens, staggered shift and break times, restricted visitor to site policy, daily temperature checking, changing work practices, communications in five languages, and intensive cleaning and sanitisation procedures.
“Given this level of rigour and our comparatively low level of confirmed cases up to this point, this sudden spike is difficult to comprehend,” the company spokesperson said.
O’Briens outlined the timeline of events, which began in May:
15 May
One isolated case confirmed (employee believed to have been in close contact with a confirmed case outside of work).
22 May
One isolated case confirmed (remote employee believed to have been in close contact with a healthcare worker).
30 July
One case confirmed.
1 August
Company seeks specific public health advice from the HSE and decision taken to test all staff.
5 August
Eighty confirmed cases.
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