Fyffes hit by Covid-19 outbreak

Almost 200 workers at Fyffes are set to be tested for Covid-19 after 10 of its workers tested positive for the virus.

All 186 staff at Fyffes’ Coventry distribution centre will be tested as a “precaution”, the city council said, with Fyffes stressing that the safety of its workers was its “number one priority”.

The UK’s largest banana supplier said it was working with public health officials to “contain and manage” the outbreak, and Liz Gaulton, director of public health at Coventry City Council confirmed she was happy for the business to continue to operate.

'Fyffes have been open and cooperative with us and have followed our advice and guidance in how to deal with this unfortunate situation,” she said.

'We have advised that all 186 staff at the centre are tested as a precaution and the measures that have been implemented mean we are happy for the business to continue to open as normal at this time.'

A spokesman for Fyffes said: 'The safety of all our workers is our number one priority and a number of actions to tackle this outbreak have been agreed and are currently being implemented.'

Dr Mamoona Tahir, consultant in communicable disease control with Public health England Midlands, added: “The management at Fyffes Group Ltd are cooperating fully with public health professionals and members of the Health and Safety Executive, to protect the health and wellbeing of their workforce and wider public health.

“Despite putting a range of infection control measures in place to protect staff from potential exposure to Covid-19, there have been a number of cases among workers.

“We are therefore liaising with management, the local authority and the Health and Safety Executive to advise on increased social distancing measures.

“We are also supporting arrangement to test the entire workforce and will work with the company and public health partners to review any further actions, once results are received.”