Ingham's chicken factory closes after FIVE workers contract coronavirus
A chicken processing plant in Victoria has been shut down after five of its workers returned positive tests for coronavirus.
Ingham’s Group announced on Wednesday that its Further Processing Plant in Thomastown, north of Melbourne, would be temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
All of the facility’s employees are isolating at home, according to a statement issued by the company’s CEO and managing director Jim Leighton.
“It is imperative that we continue do everything possible to ensure the health and safety of our people, communities and to assist in controlling the spread of the coronavirus,” Mr Leighton said.
He added the company was working with the state’s health department to “ensure all appropriate protocols are in place”.
Mr Leighton assured investors that pre-emptive “contingency plans” had been in place for months to prevent the virus from “materially” impacting results of the company’s 2021 financial year.
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“Ingham’s has worked diligently throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to maintain the highest standards of health and safety for our people, whilst maintaining flexibility to ensure we service our customers and consumers through this period of uncertainty,” he wrote.
“The closure of Thomastown is a proactive step taken on our part, and we are well prepared to manage through this disruption.”
Ingham’s other Australian sites and its New Zealand operations are not affected by the facility’s closure, Mr Leighton said.
Victoria recorded 484 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday - surpassing Australia’s previous record high of 460 cases on March 28.
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