PURITY Bakeries was from early today undergoing a massive Covid 19 testing of its Staff with two medical tents set up on its property and manned with a Medical team to effect the testing.
This as a result of three employees being tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the company to close operations today.
In a statement, the company said it has stepped up precautions to ensure the continuing safety of its employees.
“The affected employees are receiving the appropriate medical care in isolation and primary contacts already identified are in self-isolation and also being tested,” the company said.
Purity Bakeries added that it is working in close consultation with the Covid-19 Monitoring Unit of the Ministry of Health, with a view to ensuring that the company can maintain production of its products, recognizing its critical role in the food supply chain.
“The company remains confident in its ability to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in its plant, given its commitment to maintaining an industry standard hygienic environment that is subject to the most exacting food safety standards,” the statement added.
Management said it recently met with all employees in a series of Covid-19 counselling sessions, and Purity Bakeries continues to enforce strict adherence to established protocols for preventing the transmission of Covid-19.
These include the wearing of masks, regular hand washing and personal sanitisation, and the use of screens and social distancing protocols including during lunch breaks.
The company said it has also increased the frequency of its regularly scheduled plant cleanings including between shifts, and this is further supplemented by an even more comprehensive overnight cleaning and sanitisation.
“All of these steps have been approved by the Covid-19 monitoring unit which continues to monitor the ongoing measures within Purity Bakeries to eliminate any threat of Covid-19 to its employees or customers,” the company said.
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The U.S. now has more than 1.2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19. Some of those who have been sickened by the virus work within the processing plants that produce some of your favorite packaged foods.
While the virus is not believed to be transmitted through food, these factories often employ hundreds of employees, all of whom are working within close proximity to one another. With large facilities having even just a handful of employees testing positive for COVID-19, it’s imperative that they take necessary measures to clean and sanitize the vicinity thoroughly.
The makers of Wonder Bread and Nature’s Own had to shut down its baking plant in Tucker, Georgia for a few weeks after several workers contracted the virus. The company did not disclose just how many of the 255 workers fell ill.
