THE 2 Sisters poultry plant in Perth and Kinross has been closed temporarily after nine people connected to the factory tested positive for Covid-19.

The food processing plant – which employs about 1000 people – was shut down on Sunday evening. It was reported that a manager at the factory may have caught the virus from a close relative – who is not an employee of the plant.

The company released a statement saying that a temporary closure was the ‘responsible action to take’ and that arrangements were being made to test the rest of its employees: "Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of all colleagues, and we will be reviewing the situation closely in partnership with the relevant regional and national Scottish Covid-19 taskforces before we restart production.

"The facility had previously operated for six months without a single positive Covid-19 case recorded."

An incident management team is working with Scottish government, Public Health Scotland and local environmental health teams to provide advice and support.

Food Standards Scotland chief executive Geoff Ogle commented: "There is currently no evidence that food is a source of coronavirus (Covid-19), and it is very unlikely Covid-19 can be transmitted through the consumption of food or food packaging.

"However as with other infections, good hygiene practices should be followed throughout every element of food preparation."

Read more - £1 million grant awarded to 2 Sisters Food Group Limited