Coronavirus: Anglesey local lockdown 'possibility' for Llangefni factory outbreak

A local lockdown could be enforced to get the coronavirus outbreak at a food factory on Anglesey under control, Public Health Wales (PHW) has said.

Dr Christopher Johnson said control measures were in place to bring the outbreak to a "rapid conclusion".

On Monday, he confirmed the number of workers tested positive at 2 Sisters in Llangefni had increased by 17 to 175.

All staff are self-isolating and the factory has closed as workers continue to be tested.

Dr Johnson, a consultant in health protection at PHW, said: "Since we commenced targeted testing last Thursday, over 400 members of staff have provided samples...

"Incidents like this are a reminder that coronavirus is still circulating, sometimes invisibly, and that we all need to be vigilant."

First Minister Mark Drakeford said if there was a need to impose a lockdown on Anglesey he would do so, but his approach would be "proportionate" and based on evidence.

Earlier, Dr Giri Shankar, PHW incident director for the novel coronavirus, told BBC Radio Wales local lockdowns could be something "we need to consider".

"At the moment the outbreak is localised to members of staff working in that particular factory," he said.

"There is no evidence of widespread community transmission, but therefore I think at this point of time we need to weigh all the options carefully before going into a blanket lockdown.

"It is a possibility, providing there is enough evidence to support such an action.

"We need to see how the outbreak progresses."

"As we begin to ease lockdown in society, such clusters of outbreaks will occur and we do expect these," Dr Shankar added.

"And these will uncover a pocket of asymptomatic infection that existed.

"So we shouldn't be surprised, but we should be concerned and take swift action."

Speaking at the Welsh Government's daily coronavirus news briefing, Mr Drakeford said he was meeting local health officials from Anglesey on Monday afternoon to review what was happening and to see whether further measures needed to be put in place.

The first minister added that the outbreak had been in a closed setting and the contact tracing system meant the Welsh Government was able to keep on top of whether the virus had spread any further from the factory into the wider community.

Commenting on whether there was a need for a localised lockdown he said: "Our approach will be proportionate, it will draw on the evidence, it will draw on local intelligence and information.

"And then we will take the action that is required in a way that responds directly to the outbreak, but doesn't do so in a way that unfairly places restrictions on people where there would be no public health advantage to doing so".

Plaid Cymru has called for workers forced to self-isolate because of localised coronavirus outbreaks to get similar support from the UK government to those on furlough.

The party says statutory sick pay of £95.85 a week is not enough for many households across the UK.

Workers at 2 Sisters are receiving full pay, but the party fears employers elsewhere may not be so generous in future.

Ben Lake, MP for Ceredigion, said: "Workers in the food processing industry are particularly vulnerable, with a Low Pay Commission (LPC) report last year finding that around 6,700 workers - 11.8% of low-paid employees in food processing jobs - were paid lower than the national living wage.

"I fear that the inadequacy of the Statutory Sick Pay scheme is asking individuals to choose between being able to put food on the table for their family, or risk transmitting the virus to others in the community."

The UK government was asked for comment.

2 Sisters has said "the health, safety and well-being of our colleagues is ultimately the thing that matters most".

It said it would not tolerate unnecessary risks to its workforce at the plant.