Mcb777 AffiliateCops guard coronavirus-hit farm exit after 73 workers catch bug and 200 others ordered to quarantine in mobile homes | The Sun - Machibet APP

POLICE are guarding a coronavirus-ravaged farm where 73 workers have been struck down by the killer bug.

The outbreak in Mathon, Herefordshire, is being closely monitored by PHE Midlands, with 200 workers now forced to isolate in mobile homes on site.

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A police officers wearing a protective mask guards a gate of the Covid-19-hit farm in Herefordshire

Officers are guarding all the entrances and exits of the farm Credit: Getty Images - Getty

Seventy-three cases of coronavirus have been reported on the farm

Staff have been living in mobile homes on the siteCredit: SnapperSK

The mass testing was carried out after some workers - many of whom are from eastern Europe - showed symptoms sparking the largest outbreak of its kind in the UK since the pandemic began.

Pictures from the site in Herefordshire near Mathon, Worcestershire, show police officers wearing protective face masks while guarding the gates at both the entrance and the exit.

Karen Wright, Herefordshire Council’s director of public health, said the situation was now “contained” and she was “not concerned at all” about any danger to the wider community.

It comes after the Midlands regions have seen spikes in cases in recent weeks, with Leicester remaining under lockdown - and the UK death toll doubled on last week.

The dozens of new cases at producers AS Green and Co comes during harvesting season, where workers come and live on site on the Herefordshire-Worcestershire border.

BUG SPREAD

During the busy summer season they spend their days picking and packing vegetables - supplying stores such as Tesco, Aldi and Sainsbury's.

Katie Spence, PHE Midlands Health Protection Director, said: “A small number of workers became symptomatic earlier this week and they and a few close contacts among the workforce were tested initially and found to be positive.

"In line with NHS guidance, affected individuals were asked to self-isolate for seven days, with their households and close contacts asked to isolate for 14 days.

“As we have seen a global trend of large food producers being subject to outbreaks, as a precautionary measure, the decision was made to test the entire workforce.

"The initial batch of results showed a significant percentage of positive cases, despite these individuals being asymptomatic."

An aerial view of the site in MathonCredit: Getty Images - Getty

The site is still waiting on all the results back for the staff tests, but 73 positive cases have been confirmed so far.

Workers are being asked to remain on the farm and stay within household groups to isolate and reduce the spread.

Herefordshire Council is arranging food and essential supplies for residents on the site.

A spokesperson for AS Green said: “Our staff are our priority, they are hard-working key workers helping us provide food for the country during these unusual times.

"We contacted PHE and we are working closely with them and Public Health at Herefordshire Council to prevent the spread of Covid-19.”

CASE RISE

The rate of infection in Herefordshire stands at 421.1 cases per 100,000 people, which remains lower than the England average of 444.6, figures from Public Health England show.

It comes a week after pubs and restaurants opened up their doors once more as restrictions were relaxed in England.

Leicester is in lockdown for another week as official scramble to get the outbreak there under control.

There have been outbreaks in food production sites, clothing factories and in large multi-generational households.

About 28 per cent of Leicester’s population is of Indian heritage, and a further 21 per cent are from black or Asian backgrounds.

Language barriers, high levels of diabetes and poverty may have played a part in the new surge.

Matt Hancock said last week the measures had already brought the rate of infection down.

The Health Secretary has revealed is there are more than 100 outbreaks of coronavirus happening every week with local lockdowns being enforced to stop the spread.

He said the localised spikes in Covid-19 are being dealt with “swiftly and silently” by shutting down areas and installing new testing regimes such as portable walk-in centres.