Packaging firm shuts amid ‘major outbreak’ in coronavirus cases

A factory in a West Midlands coronavirus hotspot has closed after over a third of the workforce tested positive for COVID-19.

CBS Packaging, of Brandon Way, West Bromwich, has closed for 14 days to support infection control measures.

Currently 49 out of 117 staff have tested positive.

The company and public health partners began working together last week, after it was discovered that a third of staff were found to have tested positive.

Testing of the remaining staff followed this week, and at a meeting yesterday, the company offered to close its doors for two weeks.

Sandwell Council’s director of public health Dr Lisa McNally, said: “CBS bosses have taken the decision to voluntarily close because they are as determined as we are to get on top of this outbreak.

“The company has co-operated with public health partners and assure us they are doing everything they can to comply with the advice and measures recommended.

“It’s now very important that all CBS staff members self-isolate at home.  This will help prevent anyone else becoming ill.

“We would like to appeal to all businesses to contact us straight away if they have two or more cases of COVID-19 in their workplace.

“If we act early we can help minimise the impact on the employees and the business.”

Earlier this week, it was reported that there had been a big rise in the number of positive Covid-19 cases in Sandwell.

The number of positive tests are up from up from 28 a week, to 75 for the seven days up to 18 July.

That takes the rate per 100,000 people to 22.9, but still behind the current hot spot in Blackburn and Darwen which has a rate of 79.2.

Dr McNally said that although numbers across Sandwell were not comparable to levels reached in Leicester, “Unless we as a community can really respond to this, then we are potentially looking at further measures.”

Any firm with two cases or more among its staff is asked to contact Sandwell Public Health.