An outbreak of COVID-19 cases at a meat processor in northern England owned by British supermarket Asda has caused the plant to close temporarily, the retailer says.
Asda said it had been working with public health authorities to ensure staff were tested, and that while the factory in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, had not been forced to shut, it had been closed as a precaution.
It did not confirm how many cases had been found.
"As soon as we became aware that some colleagues at our Kober site may have COVID-19, we responded swiftly and worked collaboratively with the local authority and Public Health England to test all colleagues," a joint statement by Asda and Kober Limited, the firm which runs the plant, said.
The closure is the latest in a series of outbreaks linked to meat processing plants across Europe and the Americas.
A security guard at Kober meat processing plant in Cleckheaton, that has been confirmed as the location of a localised coronavirus outbreak. Source: AAP
In Australia, more than 100 coronavirus cases were linked to an outbreak at Cedar Meats, an abattoir in Melbourne's west in May,
On Thursday, one of Britain's biggest food companies suspended production after more than 50 positive tests.
The exterior of Cedar Meats Australia in Melbourne. Source: AAP
British trade union Unite said it had received reports of five more suspected outbreaks at different meat processing factories, without providing further details.
The union said employers had to do more to protect their staff while academic experts outlined risks of working in a factory environment.
"Factories and, in particular, indoor areas which are cold and damp are perfect environments for coronavirus to linger and spread," said Lawrence Young, Professor of Molecular Oncology at the University of Warwick.
"The virus survives on cold surfaces and, in the absence of ventilation and sunlight, virus-containing droplets from infected individuals are more likely to spread, settle and stay viable."
The death toll from confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom rose by 173 to 42,461, health officials said on Friday.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits. Testing for coronavirus is now widely available across Australia. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
The federal government's coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe is available for download from your phone's app store. SBS is committed to informing Australia’s diverse communities about the latest COVID-19 developments. News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus
