CONCERNS have been raised after a Wrexham food factory confirmed coronavirus cases within its staff.

A source who wished to remain anonymous told the Leader how Rowan Foods in Wrexham has once again been hit with a small amount of coronavirus cases and shared their worries that it may develop into a larger case of infections.

The factory, based on the town’s industrial estate, hit the headlines last summer when COVID-19 swept through hundreds of workers at the facility in one of the biggest localised outbreaks.

At present, it is said that two members of the canteen staff are affected but the source also claims that cases have been picked up on the production lines.

A spokesman for the factory has since responded to these claims.

They said: “It is correct to say that two members of our canteen staff, who neither work together nor are on similar shifts, have tested positive for the virus. As a precaution we isolated other members of the team and, as a result, we are unable to operate the canteen across every shift.

“So we took the decision to close it rather than only offer a food service to some shifts, as we try to be fair to all staff no matter their shift pattern. However, all staff are being provided with free teas and coffees plus free ready meals, which they are able to heat in our microwaves.”

“The canteen is COVID-secure as confirmed by the HSE and we have provided additional canteen space and seating to ensure social distancing is maintained. Just as in any shop or take away canteen staff are physically screened from people eating in the area.”

The anonymous source also raised worries that people were continuing to car share to work at the factory.

In response to this, the company spokesman said: “Rowan Foods has never broken the law. It is not against the law to car share. In fact, we encourage our staff not to car share unless they are from the same household – but if this is not possible, they are required to keep to fixed travel partners and to keep windows open.

“Our security team is actively stopping cars entering and leaving our premises and providing leaflet guidance reiterating all our previous advice on car sharing. In addition, they have issued face masks to car passengers.

“Our Social Distancing team are currently creating a video to explain how to clean a car between uses – key touch points etc – to help minimize any transmission risk.

“However, the bald fact is that many staff are reliant on car share as public transport has been significantly reduced on to the industrial estate as bus services locally have been restricted due to 30 of their drivers testing positive.”

The spokesman concludes by reassuring the public they are well aware of the serious situation the town faces with one of the highest levels of COVID-19 circulating in the Wrexham community.

They said: “Sadly, the current level of Covid in the community in Wrexham is the highest in all of Wales. As before, our factory is not the source of the virus, the virus is prevalent in the community.

“Given our employees live in the community, it is no surprise that some are testing positive. The scenario we, and other employers in Wrexham face now is similar to the wave of Covid in the town in April.

“Now, as then, we trace all close contacts in the factory following an employee testing positive. These contacts are told to isolate, for which they get full pay, and they are not allowed back on site until they have completed the required period of isolation.

“We maintain regular contact with the local health protection team and NHSW Test & Trace each of whom reassure us that we are managing to make contact with and ensure isolation of these colleagues, usually about 48hours earlier than NHSW Test & Trace themselves can do.

“Both public health teams have expressed to us their confidence in what we are doing.”