25/08/2020
As you’ll be aware, Northampton borough has seen a marked increase in covid-19 cases and from today will be added to the government’s watch list as “an area of intervention”. Analysis shows that this spike in cases is heavily influenced by a workplace outbreak at the Greencore food processing factory where 287 workers have tested positive.
As a result the factory will close voluntarily from today, and most employees and their direct households will be required to isolate at home for two weeks. This excludes those who have been furloughed for 14 days or more and who have not been on the Greencore site during that time, and those who have previously tested positive or been identified as a household contact of a case and have completed their required self-isolation period. The government will introduce regulations to ensure that this isolation period is enforceable and anyone who leaves isolation without a reasonable excuse prior to the required period ending will be subject to fines.
Currently we are continuing to avoid local lockdown in the county but it is essential that everyone works together to reduce transmission of the virus as otherwise there is a very real possibility that even stricter intervention measures will follow.
As always, we value your support in sharing the key information encouraging local people to stay safe, so please do share our Facebook and Twitter posts with your followers and encourage them to share them too using the hashtag . Please also point your friends, family and members of the public towards the latest information and guidance on local government website: https://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/coronavirus-updates/Pages/
Remember the current guidance in Northampton, Kettering, Corby and Wellingborough remains:
Limit contact with others outside of your household or bubble
Work from home if you can
Keep 2 metres from others at all times, use a face covering where you are less than 2 metres apart
Avoid using public transport or car sharing, wear face coverings if you cannot avoid these
If you have COVID-19 symptoms, stay at home, self-isolate and get a test
Avoid meeting those outside of your household or bubble in an indoor space
Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly for 20 seconds each time
Do not share items with others outside of your household or bubble
If you have COVID-19 symptoms, do not go to work, either work from home or report sick, self-isolate and get a test
Even if you only have mild COVID-19 symptoms, get a test
If you are contacted by test and trace and asked to self-isolate, stay at home for 14 days.