By Tony Earnshaw- LDRS
A textile mill near Dewsbury has become the latest site to suffer an outbreak of coronavirus.
Ulster Yarns, based at Ravensthorpe Mills in Ravensthorpe, will continue to operate despite some staff testing positive for Covid-19.
Workers who tested positive are now recovering at home. Other staff will be tested at a mobile testing unit to be set up on site this week.
The number of workers affected has not been made public.
News of the outbreak was released in a joint statement from the company, Public Health England and Kirklees Council, who said the risk to residents was “very low”.
The outbreak is the first to be announced since Kirklees was placed back under local restrictions.
It follows others earlier in the summer: at the Kober meat processing plant at Hunsworth near Cleckheaton, at Highgrove Beds in Liversedge and Dura Beds in Batley, and at Camira Fabrics in Meltham.
The joint statement said Ulster Yarns “will continue to operate with a reduced workforce during the daytime under ongoing safety protocols in line with Government guidance.”
It added that anyone else who may have come into contact with the cases outside of work will be followed up by NHS Test and Trace – and may be advised to self-isolate for 14 days.
While the risk to residents from this outbreak is very low, everyone in Kirklees should continue to socially distance, wash hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap and water and get tested if they have symptoms.