A new focus of covid-19 was seen at Gencoal – a canned tuna, mackerel and salmon company, which exports the main business source -, where approximately 170 people work. Most of the 12 cases confirmed so far are workers living in Vila do Conde and in the neighboring municipality of Póvoa de Varzim.
The son of one of the workers was also infected with SARS-CoV-2. The child attends a kindergarten in the village of A-Ver-o-Mar.
The Mayor of Vila do Conde, in statements to the media, confirmed that “this morning [de quinta-feira] a visit by ARS-Norte ”, with the objective of inspecting all the company’s facilities and activating the appropriate mechanisms, which may include the closure of the canning plant. “Working conditions are being assessed,” he added.
“As far as I know, the affected area where the infected employees were working was closed on the spot,” said Mayor Elisa Ferraz.
All those who may have come into contact with the virus were sent home for prevention. “From my last conversation with the local health delegate, the range of tests is being extended to all employees and family members,” said the mayor, leaving the guarantee: “Everything that needed to be done in order to investigate has been done since the zero moment ”.
The source of contagion, explains Elisa Ferraz, may be “the fruit of someone who came from abroad”, allegedly “family member of an employee”.
On the arrival of citizens from other countries, the Mayor of Vila do Conde, leaves the “alert” that “care is needed at airports and care at borders”, so “control is essential” by government authorities.
The municipality has two meetings scheduled for this afternoon, in order to update the state of play. The first one with the Italian managers of the company and with the health entities, followed by another with the Municipal Security Council to evaluate the measures to be taken.
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