This is a subscriber-only article
Meat factory workers at Kepak Watergrasshill have raised concerns after testing positive for COVID-19.
Local Fine Gael Councillor Noel McCarthy told the Irish Farmers Journal that workers had contacted him after receiving positive results.
“They tested positive and were upset,” McCarthy said.
“They were told to go home for two weeks and take Panadol. These would be young people, one of them has a child at home.”
To date, there are 12 reported clusters in meat factories, with over 600 workers testing positive for the virus.
McCarthy said that Kepak was a much-appreciated employer in the area, but that it should consider temporarily closing and reviewing results from testing that was carried out on Monday.
He said one of the scariest parts for the people who had contacted him was that they hadn’t displayed any symptoms.
Meat Industry Ireland
Kepak declined to comment and referred to communication from the meat factory representative body, Meat Industry Ireland (MII).
“Every meat processing site has a COVID-19 response team in place to manage implementation of enhanced safety measures and communications with staff and HSE,” MII said.
It said that factories had implemented a number of measures including staggering work breaks, temperature checking, additional cleaning and Perspex screens.
“Any incident of a positive COVID-19 case has immediate follow-up with the HSE at local level,” it said.
“MII’s members are committed to implementing any further measures deemed necessary to protect the health and safety of staff.”
SHARING OPTIONS: