Why have there been so many coronavirus outbreaks at meat factories following outbreak in German abattoir?
Here's what we know so far...
Factories in the UK are seeing coronavirus outbreaks, with a worker reporting an outbreak at a biscuit factory and three meat factories having shut after workers caught Covid-19.
It was also reported on Tuesday that a meat factory in the North Rhine-Westphalia state of Germany saw 1,500 confirmed cases.
The state has now re-entered lockdown, with governor of North Rhine-Westphalia state saying people in Guetersloh and parts of a neighbouring county will be back living under similar restrictions to those which were in place across Germany during the early stages of the pandemic in March and April.
With lockdown measures in the UK continuing to be rolled back, here’s what we know so far about why some meat factories are seeing these outbreaks.
Why are factories seeing outbreaks of coronavirus?
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A report from the Centre for Disease Control found that things like the working conditions making it hard for social distancing and the physical demands of working in a factory making it difficult to wear masks could all be contributing to the spread of Covid-19 among factory workers.
Indeed, Dr Daniel Atkinson of Treated.com tells Metro.co.uk the constant and at times increasing demand for food during the pandemic combined with cold and damp conditions could well be to blame for the outbreaks we’re seeing in factories now.
He said: ‘Whilst we have been in lockdown, services like food production have still needed to continue. Particularly as panic buying became a trend back in March, demand for groceries undoubtedly increased.
‘Workplaces like factories differ from environments like offices significantly. There isn’t the possibility of working from home for many people working there, and keeping a safe distance from your colleagues can prove difficult.
‘Government guidelines are in place to ensure these workspaces are safe, however, adhering to them completely isn’t easy to manage.
‘The conditions of factories can sometimes be cold and damp too. This is ideal for the virus to stick around so it can spread with ease.’
He added: ‘Picking up the virus outside of the working environment without experiencing symptoms during the incubation period, and then not getting tested because of this will likely spread the virus inside of factories.
‘Staff will likely wear protective clothing whilst they work, but whether their faces are shielded during this time isn’t known.’
When it comes to the risk that these outbreaks present to the wider public, Dr Atkinson tells us: ‘Outbreaks in these environments can of course have a knock-on effect for the wider community, increasing the rate of infection and leading to further cases of Coronavirus.
‘This impact may not be seen for a number of weeks, which is a concern as the Government announces the easing of restrictions, and a reduction to.
‘Cases of coronavirus in food production can be worrying because of the conditions, however there is nothing to suggest that the food itself has been contaminated.’
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