Factory closes as East Mids town becomes ‘Area of Intervention’
Northampton has been classes as an ‘Area of Intervention’ by the Government after a spike in cases over recent weeks.
The move comes from the Health and Social Care secretary, local leaders, NHS Test and Trace, the Joint Biosecurity Centre and the Chief Medical Officer for England, who have agreed changes to local restrictions in some parts of England.
Government and local leaders in Oldham, Pendle and Blackburn have agreed additional measures to curb the spread of the virus, while removing Wigan, Darwen and Rossendale from intervention. Businesses, including restaurants and pubs, workplaces and childcare including nurseries, are to remain open.
Meanwhile, Birmingham has been added to this week’s watch list as an ‘Area of Enhanced Support’.
Northampton has seen a marked increase in cases, with the local incidence rate hitting 125.1 per 100,000 people during the week ending 13 August. Local testing data and analysis from the Joint Biosecurity Centre shows this spike is almost solely down to an outbreak linked to the workforce at the Greencore Factory where nearly 300 workers have tested positive.
The factory will close voluntarily from Friday (August 21), and employees and their direct households will be required to isolate at home for two weeks. The Health Secretary will introduce regulations to ensure that this self-isolation period is legally enforced. Anyone who leaves isolation prior to the two-week period ending without reasonable excuse will be subject to fines.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “To prevent a second peak and keep Covid-19 under control, we need robust, targeted intervention where we see a spike in cases. The only way we can keep on top of this deadly virus is through decisive action led by the people who know their areas best, wherever possible through consensus with a local area.”
Lucy Wightman, director of public health at Northampton Borough Council, said: “Northampton borough has been experiencing a high number of cases over the last 4 weeks and from today will be added to the government’s watchlist as an “Area of Intervention”.
“Local testing data shows this spike is significantly influenced by a workplace outbreak at the Greencore Factory. As a result the factory will close voluntarily from today, and most employees and their direct households will be required to isolate at home for two weeks. The government is also introducing regulations to ensure this isolation period is enforceable and anyone leaving 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 in the Borough. We will continue to support Greencore so that they are in a position to re-open as soon as is safe to do so.
“I want to thank local people in Northampton for the collective effort to date to help reduce the spread of the virus. We recognise this is tough for everyone but I would urge you all to keep going and to follow the guidance. This situation illustrates how fragile our position is, and that if we don’t keep continuing to work together to reduce the transmission of the virus, there is a very real possibility that further and stricter intervention measures and a possible local lockdown will follow.”
