HPSC to investigate allegation of Coronavirus outbreak at Liffey Meats, says TD

A Dublin based deputy has told the Dáil that the HPSC is set to investigate allegations of a Caronavirus outbreak in the Liffey Meats factory in Ballyjamesduff. 

Deputy Bríd Smith of Solidarity-People Before Profit made the brief comments when addressing Minister Heather Humphreys in the Dáil today. 

The meat processor had earlier this week branded claims of an outbreak of Coronavirus among their staff as “grossly inaccurate and false”.

Dublin South TD, Bríd Smith told the Dáil: "I would like to welcome the written confirmation from Health Minister Simon Harris to Deputy [Richard] Boyd Barrett that the Health Protection Surveillance Centre will investigate an alleged outbreak of COVID-19 in Liffey Meats in your constituency. I think it's urgent and I think it's welcome that it's going to happen." 

The company's earlier statement, dismissing such claims, had been made  in light of criticism of Liffey Meats published on social media on Saturday evening and repeatedly shared.
The criticism was made anonymously by someone claiming to be a “concerned employee”. The unsubstantiated claim alleges that up to 160 plant staff were “symptomatic of Coronavirus”.
A Liffey Meats spokesperson told the Celt: “The health and wellbeing of our employees and everyone entering our plants is our priority.”
The company also said that no employee who has had the Coronavirus has returned to work to date.
The company said that they are taking a number of procedures to ensure the health and safety of staff including, taking the temperature of everyone entering the premises and adhering to Government and HSE guidelines on self-isolating.
“We are in ongoing contact with the HSE, who have confirmed that they are very satisfied with all the measures we have in place,” assured the spokesperson.