48 workers test positive at Peter’s Pies

A workforce-wide testing programme at Peter’s Pies has seen a further 48 workers test positive for Covid-19.

The majority of the Bedwas-based company’s 613 staff members were tested over two days last week after 19 workers tested positive.

In a statement to Caerphilly Observer, the company said not all workers were tested because of “shift patterns” but that authorities were “happy with the position”.

The statement also said that last week’s testing had a positive rate of 11.2%. According to Public Health Wales data, the positive rate for Caerphilly County Borough for the weekending Sunday, October 25, was 17.3% (485 cases out of 2,796 tests).

A Peter’s Pies spokesman said: “Ideally, we do not want any cases but given our location, we would expect some colleagues to become positive. The key issue is then of course control so that others are safeguarded.

“In every case we have worked proactively with the local authority and the NHS Track, Trace, Protect, team in response to any Covid-19 cases associated with the company.

“In similar whole-factory testing programmes, whether in Wales or England, we have seen several incidents where positive results of well over 100 have been recorded in similar-sized operations.

“Peter’s focus is and will continue to be safeguarding the health of all colleagues. It is key that everyone, both in and outside of work, comply with social distancing measures to avoid transmission in the factory environment and at home to their family members.”

Staff have been “reminded” of the need for “responsible behaviour” and the company welcomed Wales’ firebreak lockdown.

The spokesman added: “As a business we are hugely grateful to the efforts put in by all our colleagues in complying with the procedures that were introduced and their efforts in keeping the bakery operating in a Covid environment since March.”