Health Minister says ‘no need’ to impose local lockdown in North Wales towns hit by coronavirus outbreaks

The Welsh Health Minister has said there is “no need” to impose a local lockdown in two North Wales towns hit by coronavirus outbreaks.

There has been a combined total of 500 COVID-19 cases at the 2 Sisters chicken processing plant on Anglesey and the Rowan Foods ready-meal manufacturing factory in Wrexham.

The 2 Sisters site in Llangefni re-opened yesterday after a 14-day closure in the wake of 217 positive tests, while there are currently 283 cases associated with the facility on Wrexham Industrial Estate.

Local lockdown measures were introduced in Leicester this week after a spike in people contracting the virus there.

However, Vaughan Gething said the Welsh Government was confident the disease had not spread into the wider community in Wrexham and on Anglesey.

He said: “While there have been some increases in cases as a result of the outbreaks and incident, there is no evidence of any widespread transmission within the respective wider communities.

“There is therefore no need to impose a local lockdown as happened in Leicester this week. We will of course continue to review the position here in Wales.

“At the 2 Sisters plant in Llangefni, in Anglesey there are currently 217 confirmed cases comprised of staff members and their contacts.

“Testing has been extensive and 305 negative results have been confirmed to date.

“Subject to ongoing progress to the satisfaction of the multi agencies involved, training will start at the plant on Friday 3^rd July with the intention of re-commencing operations on Sunday 5^th July.

“The company has stated that staff members will not work until their status has been confirmed as negative.”

In relation to the Rowan Foods plant he said there were 283 confirmed cases and to date 909 people have tested negative.

The recent increase is said to be due to results coming through from the mass testing of the workforce that has been undertaken, and not a new spread of infection.

Mr Gething said: “The results are what we would expect to see when a focused and robust testing regime is put in place.

“There continues to be no evidence that the infection is factory-based and the factory remains operational with suitable safeguards in place.  A two day long HSE site visit took place last week. ”

“At the end of last week, I issued new guidance for meat processing and food production plants about preventing and managing outbreaks of coronavirus.

“The guidance was developed on an expedited basis and I would thank the stakeholders who inputted into its production.”

Mr Gething said the advice included:

• Procedures to manage suspected cases, including information about the NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect service.
• Workplace risk assessment.
• Communications with employees.
• Shared accommodation and transport to site.
• Entry to site and physical distancing onsite, including in communal areas
• Food hygiene.

The NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect service has been seen as a key part of the government’s response to the outbreak.

On Monday 29^th June, Mr Gething met again with employers and unions at meat factories. The following issues were identified for further action:

• The need to re-inforce the need to socially distance both at the work place and travelling to and from work.
• Addressing any language barriers in communicating with staff.
• Being aware of living arrangements which can increase the risks of transmission and not allow for effective self-isolation.

Mr Gething said he was prepared to exercise legal powers to close facilities that pose a public health risk from Covid-19.

However, he added: “To date the advice I have received is that if the measures implemented to date are adhered to then further interventions are not justified.

“This is a dynamic situation and I will continue to review what measures may be required in the future.”