What do we know about the new grouping of cases within the same factory?

• A total of 675 tests were carried out in two days at a poultry slaughterhouse.
• Eleven employees were detected positive, but there is “no chain of contamination within the company,” reassures the ARS.

–

Since this weekend, a Vendée company has been closely followed by the health authorities. On Saturday, five cases of coronavirus were identified among the employees of the Arrivé factory (Maître Coq), located in Essarts-en-Bocage. At the end of the campaign
screening, which ended on Monday, six new people tested positive. Results “rather reassuring” estimates this Tuesday the Regional agency of health.

Why was this screening operation launched?

A total of 675 tests were carried out in two days by a laboratory, directly within the food company. An “unprecedented” “massive action” decided by the ARS after nine cases have successively been declared there, since April 1. “In particular, there have been two consecutive cases recently,” said Dr Thierry Le Guen, head of health security at ARS. This is what made us wonder if there was a risk of contamination in the company. According to the Arrivé group, 100% of employees have volunteered.

What are the results ?

After this series of tests, eleven patients (in addition to the first nine) were therefore identified. “This is a grouping of cases but at this stage, no chain of transmission within the company has been established,” says the ARS. In other words, these employees may have each been infected outside their workplace. “An epidemiological investigation must confirm this hypothesis, but at this stage we are rather reassured, believes Thierry Le Guen. By observing the first five cases, we noticed, for example, that they are in different locker rooms. All of the patients, most of whom were asymptomatic, were placed in isolation. Contact cases are being identified and will in turn be tested.

What measures within the company?

The poultry slaughter and packaging company did not stop its activity, which did not stop either during the confinement. “Sanitary measures had already been reinforced, with social distancing and the installation of Plexiglas between work stations,” said Christophe Guyony, the managing director. A new disinfection has taken place and a reflection is under way on how to further improve things. “A room could be converted into a new cloakroom to further increase the space. The company says consumers don’t have to worry.

–