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The Cranswick pig processing factory in Cullybackey, Co Antrim, is to temporarily close due to a cluster of COVID-19 cases.
Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Robin Swann said that 35 cases had been identified among staff in the facility.
It is understood that the factory employs up to 500 workers.
The facility processes around 10,500 pigs per week, which equates to around 30% of the total Northern Ireland weekly pig kill.
Deep clean
Reports indicate that the factory will close from Saturday evening for a deep clean.
All staff at the site have been sent for coronavirus testing.
Minister Swann said that with testing ongoing among the Cranswick staff, the number of positive cases is likely to rise.
“We are expecting to see further increase in those numbers,” he said during a media briefing on Thursday.
The latest statistics from the Department of Health show an increase of 10 cases in the local council since yesterday - the largest increase of all 11 council areas in Northern Ireland.
The Mid and East Antrim Council area has also seen the biggest spike in the past seven days with a total of 80 new cases, ahead of Belfast with 72.
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