Outbreak strikes food factory that makes sandwiches for M&S

A coronavirus outbreak has been confirmed at a food factory which supplies pre-packaged sandwiches to M&S.

Public Health Northamptonshire has confirmed that Greencore in Northampton is experiencing an outbreak of virus cases.

The manufacturer, which has a number of factories across the UK, is the country’s largest maker of pre-packed sandwiches and makes own-brand to-go food for all major supermarkets, including Tesco and Sainsbury’s. The Northampton site supplies M&S.

Lucy Wightman, director of public health at Northamptonshire County Council for Northampton, told the Northampton Chronicle and Echo: ‘We are working with colleagues at Greencore in Northampton after the discovery of an outbreak of Covid-19 in the workplace.

‘Public Health England Midlands have been providing support to colleagues at Greencore in managing the outbreak.

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‘This has been supplemented by support from the local infection prevention and Ccntrol team and Northampton Borough Council’s environmental health colleagues.

‘It is evident that Greencore has highly effective measures in place and they continue to work extremely hard to exceed the requirements needed to be Covid-19 secure within the workplace.’

It comes after the number of cases in Northampton has increased over the last four weeks, and the health authority is now urging residents to follow the guidelines.

Councillor Ian Morris, portfolio holder for public health at Northamptonshire County Council said at the end of July: ‘We are concerned that coronavirus cases in Northampton remain higher than we would like them to be, so we are issuing a set of messages to the residents of Northampton to help us to start to reduce the level of transmission.

‘If you have symptoms of Covid-19, however mild, get tested and self-isolate. It is essential that the public follow the guidance and that everyone acts responsibly in reducing the risk of transmission and protecting those in our communities who are most vulnerable.’

Government figures published from the end of July show the coronavirus infection rate in the borough of Northampton remains above the national rate (455.6 per 100,000) and regional average at 535.2 per 100,000.

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