Leading meat producer Moy Park has confirmed an outbreak of Covid-19 at its processing plant in Ballymena, Antrim.
Minister for Health in Northern Ireland Robin Swann has said that the cluster is being investigated by the Public Health Agency (PHA).
In a statement issued on Thursday, Moy Park wrote: “We have been informed that a very small number of our employees in the Ballymena site have tested positive for coronavirus.” The BBC is reporting that fewer than 1% of the 1,400 employees have been diagnosed with the virus.
The definition of a ‘cluster’ in relation to Covid-19 is two or more cases confirmed in one setting within a 14-day period.
“The individuals affected have been self-isolating on full pay in line with our Covid sick pay scheme and we are in contact with them to ensure they have the support they require,” the statement went on to say.
“We continue to work closely with the Public Health Agency and other government agencies, following their advice and protocols.
“As coronavirus has spread across the communities in which we live, we are doing all that we can to help keep the virus out of our facilities and help prevent its spread.”
The revelation follows the announcement by the PHA that 16 clusters resulting in 133 cases had been identified in the north since May. Northern Ireland has now gone 10 days in a row without any deaths due to Covid-19.
Moy Park supplies many major supermarkets with poultry, including Tesco, Dunnes, Centra and Supervalu.
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