MP Yvette Cooper seeking government assurances over COVID testing after outbreak at Forza Foods in Normanton

MP Yvette Cooper has called for all staff at a food factory to be tested for coronavirus, after an outbreak at the site was confirmed on Thursday.
By David Spereall
Published 3rd Jul 2020, 09:59 BST
Updated 3rd Jul 2020, 10:16 BST
Ms Cooper says she wants testing to be made available for all employees and their families at the Forza site.Ms Cooper says she wants testing to be made available for all employees and their families at the Forza site.
Ms Cooper says she wants testing to be made available for all employees and their families at the Forza site.

A total of 17 cases of the virus have been confirmed at Forza Foods, which is run by Asda, on Normanton Industrial Estate. The company said "almost all" of those people worked the same shift pattern.

A further 300 staff have been sent home to self-isolate. The factory, which employs more than 1,000 people in total, is still running.

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The town's MP Yvette Cooper has now called on the government to ensure there is enough capacity to test all staff at the site, as well as their families.

A total of 17 staff have tested positive for coronavirus at Forza Foods, on Normanton industrial estate.A total of 17 staff have tested positive for coronavirus at Forza Foods, on Normanton industrial estate.
A total of 17 staff have tested positive for coronavirus at Forza Foods, on Normanton industrial estate.

Ms Cooper said: "I am seeking urgent assurances from the Government that there will be sufficient swift test and trace support to help local teams tackle the outbreak.

"I have contacted the Director of Public Health, local officials and Asda with a series of questions about what action is being taken, including making sure that there is sufficient swift testing for all of the staff at Forza and any concerned relatives as well as for the workforce on the most affected shift.

"I am seeking assurances from the government that there is sufficient local tracing capacity to quickly track and trace every case. And I have asked for further local advice for the community this weekend."

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Ms Cooper also said she was concerned by the number of outbreaks reported in meat processing and packaging centres both in the UK and abroad, and has asked the government to investigate why those workplaces have been hit by the virus.

Public Health England figures published on Thursday indicated the Wakefield district had around 9 positive COVID cases per 100,000 people between June 22 and June 28.

That's a slightly higher rate than the average across England, but lower than the regional average.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Related topics:Yvette CooperNormantonASDAGovernment

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