An important message from the Northamptonshire COVID-19 Strategic Co-ordination Centre:
Northampton Borough has seen a marked increase in covid-19 cases and has been added to the Government’s watch list as “an area of intervention”. Analysis shows that this spike is heavily influenced by a workplace outbreak at the Greencore food processing factory where 287 workers have tested positive.
As a result the factory closed voluntarily on Friday, and most employees and their direct households will be required to isolate at home for two weeks. This excludes those who have been furloughed for 14 days or more and who have not been on the Greencore site during that time, and those who have previously tested positive or been identified as a household contact of a case and have completed their required self-isolation period. The government will introduce regulations to ensure that this isolation period is enforceable and anyone who leaves isolation without a reasonable excuse prior to the required period ending will be subject to fines.
This decision has been taken as part of the ongoing efforts to reduce the spread of the virus and keep both staff and the local community safe. In the lead up to this decision Greencore has been completely cooperative with all measures suggested to ensure COVID security in the workplace.
Alongside Public Health England and Northampton Borough Council we will continue to support Greencore so that they are in a position to re-open as soon as is safe to do so.
Currently we are continuing to avoid local lockdown in the county but it is essential that everyone works together to reduce transmission of the virus as otherwise there is a very real possibility that even stricter intervention measures will follow.
As always, we value your support in sharing the key information encouraging local people to stay safe. The latest information and guidance for the public is being shared at https://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/coronavirus-updates and if they access social media, our community can follow updates using the hashtag #NorthantsTogether
The current guidance in Northampton, Kettering, Corby and Wellingborough remains:
Limit contact with others outside of your household or bubble
Work from home if you can
Keep 2 metres from others at all times, use a face covering where you are less than 2 metres apart
Avoid using public transport or car sharing, wear face coverings if you cannot avoid these
If you have COVID-19 symptoms, stay at home, self-isolate and get a test
Avoid meeting those outside of your household or bubble in an indoor space
Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly for 20 seconds each time
Do not share items with others outside of your household or bubble
If you have COVID-19 symptoms, do not go to work, either work from home or report sick, self-isolate and get a test
Even if you only have mild COVID-19 symptoms, get a test
If you are contacted by test and trace and asked to self-isolate, stay at home for 14 days