Nearly half Bakkavor workforce tested for covid-19 so far after cluster of cases at Newark factory

Seven hundred and one workers at Bakkavor have already been tested for covid-19 during the first days of on-site testing at the dessert factory in Newark.

The county council has worked with partner agencies and the management team at Bakkavor to set up the testing following a cumulative total of 72 positive cases – although since isolating 33 have since returned to work, and are fully fit and healthy to do so.

The testing facility, which will run until Wednesday of this week, will enable all 1,600 employees and 90 agency staff to be tested if they agree as it is a voluntary process.

It is being run by NHS clinicians in bespoke training rooms set up by Bakkavor, which is on Newark Industrial Estate.

The rooms are open from 10am to 12pm to ensure that employees from all shift patterns have access to testing.

They are released from the factory and taken to the testing zone, where details are checked prior to testing.

Staff from other areas of the business have been seconded to set up and help manage the massive administrative undertaking of uploading the details into the NHS portal and ensuring that completed tests meet the courier times allocated.

Shona Taylor, business director for desserts at Bakkavor, said: “We understand the importance of the testing and I have been immensely proud of the management team and all the efforts that have been made to ensure we could deliver this for our colleagues.

"The programme has been positively received, and colleagues have been supportive and reassured that every effort is being taken to ensure their safety.”

Bakkavor confirmed suggestions that some employees had refused to be tested, but said it was no more than three or four and the refusals has been for personal reasons.

A spokesman said a number of others who had concerns over the test were persuaded to have one after talking things over with peer supporters within the workforce.

The spokesman said the response had been overwhelmingly pro and supportive of testing.

Jonathan Gribbin, director of Public Health at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “Bakkavor have been very co-operative and we hope that the testing of their employees will allow us to find out more about where people are acquiring the infection.

“However, we know that not all the cases in Newark are linked to Bakkavor so it is vital that people continue to follow the strict guidance to prevent the transmission of covid-19 across the whole community. People should follow social distancing guidance in full including guidelines about car sharing , washing hands regularly, wearing face coverings, self-isolating and quickly getting a test if symptoms develop.”