Staff sent home after Covid-19 outbreak at Devizes cake factory

Credit: Bakkavor

At least five people have tested positive for coronavirus at a cake factory in Devizes.

Bakkavor Desserts is based at the factory formerly Haydens Bakery on the Hopton Industrial estate.

The firm provides desserts for supermarkets such as Marks and Spencer and Waitrose.

The number of cases is less than 1% of the total workforce at the site.

Today the company has confirmed they have a small number of affected staff and say it is working with Public Health England.

"A small number of colleagues have recently tested positive for COVID-19 at our Bakkavor Desserts site in Devizes, which employs 540 people. 

"In the event of a positive confirmation, we have an immediate and clear plan to follow and we are working closely with PHE.  

"Due to the nature of our business, we already have high standards of hygiene, Good Manufacturing Practice and handwashing in place. In these unprecedented times, we have further enhanced our safety and hygiene measures  in line with all government guidelines and daily temperature test our colleagues.   We also have a robust return to work policy in place to ensure those returning to work are fit and well.  

"We wish these colleagues a speedy recovery."


It follows a spike in Covid-19 cases coming from an Iceland depot in Swindon.

In the final week of July, Swindon's increase in coronavirus cases was the largest rise per 100,000 people in England.

According to PHE, there were 108 new cases during those seven days, compared to 44 in the week ending 24 July.


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