FRIDAY, 28 AUGUST, 2020

For immediate release:

COVID-19 Coupar Angus update

Update from the Incident Management Team (IMT) which is working with Local Councils, Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland to provide advice and support in the outbreak related to the 2 Sisters food processing plant in Coupar Angus.

PLEASE NOTE, THE NEXT SCHEDULED UPDATE FOR THIS INCIDENT WILL BE ON MONDAY, 31 AUGUST.

COVID-19 update as at 2pm, August 28, 2020:

• Number of confirmed COVID-19 positive cases = 188.

• 164 factory workers.

• 24 community contacts.

• Increase of 11 positive cases since yesterday.

• Indoor visiting in care homes remains paused across Tayside. The IMT made a decision today that this pause will continue until at least Friday, September 4. The situation will be reviewed again in the middle of next week.

• All workers and their household contacts must continue to self-isolate and must not leave their homes, unless it is an emergency, until 31 August, even if they have a negative result.

• If any worker or their household contact has been contacted by the contact tracing team, they must follow the specific advice provided to them, especially if this extends their isolation period beyond 31 August.

• People who have been asked to self-isolate should not work anywhere else and must stay at home.

• Support continues to be provided to workers and their families through the three local authorities.

• Tayside remains in a heightened state of vigilance. Everyone should follow the FACTS guidance, particularly the over 70s and those who were shielding or in high-risk groups.

Arrangements for the reopening of the 2 Sisters Factory:

• The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and Environmental Health (EH) teams have undertaken risk assessments of the factory environment.

• 2 Sisters have put additional measures in place to ensure workers are appropriately physically distanced and further hygiene measures have been implemented. The IMT was pleased to hear about the significant development work that has been implemented over the past two weeks and is ongoing.  The IMT will continue to review progress but were supportive of the proposed plan to reopen on Tuesday, 1 September, with staff starting to return to the site for training on Monday, 31 August.

• HSE, FSS and EH will continue to work closely with the factory management and FSS will be on site at the beginning of the week to monitor the re-opening arrangements

• Most workers will be able to return to site from Monday, August 31. However, if any worker or their household contact has been contacted by the contact tracing team, they must follow the specific advice provided to them, especially if this extends their isolation period beyond 31 August.

• As the factory prepares to re-open, the public will see activity at the site over this weekend. This will not involve any factory workers who have been self-isolating.

Dr Emma Fletcher, Associate Director of Public Health and the Chair of the IMT, said, “The IMT considered the risk assessments and were satisfied that the factory should be able to reopen from Monday, August 31.

“The majority of staff will be able to return from Monday, August 31. However, those who have had positive tests themselves, or those who live with a positive case, must follow the specific self-isolation guidance they have been given and not return to work until their period of isolation is over.

“The IMT also considered the reintroduction of indoor care home visiting across Tayside which was paused on Monday, August 24. After careful consideration, we agreed that this pause on indoor visiting should continue currently to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect care home residents, staff and their families. The decision will be reviewed in the middle of next week. ”

Information for factory workers and their household contacts: www.taysidecares.co.uk -

Guidance issued on Thursday, 20 August is that all factory workers and anyone living in a household with a factory worker, including any children, must now isolate at home until Monday, 31 August. This guidance, and further detailed information for factory workers and their household contacts is now available in different languages at www.taysidecares.co.uk

What you should do if you have symptoms:

Anyone who has any of the following symptoms should book a test at nhsinform.scot/test-and-protect or call 0800 028 2816 if they are unable to access the online service:

• a high temperature or fever

• a new continuous cough 

• a loss of, or change, in sense of smell or taste

Remember the FACTS guidance:

F – Face coverings. These should be used in shops and on public transport (buses, trains and taxis)

A – Avoid crowded places

C – Clean your hands frequently, using water and soap whenever possible

T – Two metres – observe physical distancing

S – Self-isolate and book a test if you are suffering from COVID-19 symptoms

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications
(01382) 424138