Covid-19 outbreak at Walker's Shortbread factory site in Elgin
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WALKER'S Shortbread is being supported by health officials after an outbreak of Covid-19 at its Elgin factory.
The biscuit giant, one of Moray's biggest employers with sites in Elgin and Aberlour, confirmed that 17 workers have tested positive for the virus and 15 close contacts have been told to self-isolate.
NHS Grampian's health protection team has been advising bosses on safety measures.
The company held a 70-minute meeting on Covid-related matters with NHS Grampian and a number of associates on Wednesday, January 20.
A spokesman for Walker’s Shortbread, Jack Irvine, said: "The company gave an extensive rundown of safety measures in place and these were acknowledged as meeting current government standards."
He added: "On the Elgin site there are currently 17 members of staff who have tested positive and are self-isolating. These members are employed in areas across the site, from factory workers, to offices to warehouses.
"Several of these positive cases are asymptomatic and were detected as a result of the screening implementation we undertook following the NHS Grampian recommendations.
"There are also a further 15 staff members who either we, or Track and Trace, have told to self-isolate due to either being in the proximity of a positive case at work or else in contact with someone who has no company involvement."
Walker's employs just short of 400 people at its Elgin site.
Mr Irvine confirmed that two staff members currently working from home and an Aberlour canteen staff member had also tested positive for the virus.
He said: "At our Aberlour site, we currently employ 700 people and we don't have any factory personnel who are positive.
"However, there are two positive cases of 'working from home' staff – and a further member from our canteen staff. All are self-isolating."
Walker's today shut down production for 10 days for annual maintenance, painting and repairs. It is due to reopen on Monday, February 8.
A spokesperson for NHS Grampian said today: "We are aware of 22 cases of Covid-19 associated with Walker’s Shortbread.
"NHS Grampian’s health protection team is working with management to support them.
"Those affected, and their close contacts, are self-isolating."
