Coronavirus: Walkers crisps confirms 28 cases at Leicester site

Image copyright PA Media Image caption The main production for Walkers is at the site in Beaumont Leys, Leicester

Walkers has confirmed 28 staff at its factory in Leicester have tested positive for coronavirus.

The crisp giant, which employs 1,400 at its Beaumont Leys site, said it had seen a "steady increase" in confirmed cases in June.

A local lockdown has been announced in Leicester after the number of infections in the city rose.

Walkers said its own track and trace procedure indicated transmission of the virus was "not in our factory".

"We have seen an increase in the number of confirmed cases, reflecting the situation in the local community and coinciding with the roll-out and uptake of testing," a spokeswoman said.

Image copyright PA Media Image caption Walkers said its products were unaffected as a result of the confirmed cases

The firm said it was "in regular contact" with health authorities and the government, and was "reassured" it had the correct measures in place to protect employees.

It said it continued to "maintain the highest level of vigilance", and that employees with a confirmed or suspected case of Covid-19 were self-isolating on full pay.

The company said health authorities supported their view the cases reflect transmission in the community and therefore there was "not a transmission issue on site".

It said products were unaffected by the cases.

"The advice from DEFRA and the Food Standards Agency is clear - It is very unlikely that people can catch COVID-19 from food," added the spokeswoman. "We do not anticipate any disruption to the supply of our products."

On Monday Matt Hancock said Leicester accounted for "10% of all positive cases in the country over the past week". And the number of positive coronavirus cases in Leicester were "three times higher than the next highest city".

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