THE county council has assured that people have a low risk of contracting Coronavirus after workers from a farm which has suffered an outbreak shopped in Worcester.

We reported last night how workers from a vegetable farm in Mathon, near Malvern, had been to the city on a mini-bus to shop at Primark and Iceland before 74 tested positive for the virus at the weekend.

However, following public concerns, Worcestershire County Council said the risk to staff and shoppers after catching the virus was “low.”

Dr.Kathryn Cobain, Director for Public Health for Worcestershire said: “Before the Covid-19 outbreak at As Green and CO some of the workers visited a small number of stores in Worcester and Malvern.

“The risk to other users and staff in these stores is very low. If shoppers observe the social distancing and hand hygiene guidance, and wear a face covering where distancing is not possible, they keep themselves and others safe.

“Environmental Health are continuing to carry out compliance checks in stores, to ensure correct procedures are followed. We continue to work alongside our Public Health colleagues in Herefordshire to monitor the situation, and to gather as much information from the workers as possible.

“Our outbreak control plan is in place, ready to respond if needed.

“The Herefordshire outbreak is a reminder to us all that Covid-19 has not gone away and we should follow the guidance in place to keep us all safe.”

North Herefordshire MP Bill Wiggin revealed that a worker on the farm began feeling unwell on July 7.

He said: “Since that time, all workers on the site have been tested and now are completely isolated.

“It is reaffirming to hear that Public Health England have declared there is no immediate threat to the wider community, however, we must not be complacent.

“The farm in question is incredibly rural and all those living on-site will remain isolated for the time-being.”

A farm worker who has tested positive for Covid-19 has fled from the site, despite being told to self isolate on the farm.

Around 200 staff at the vegetable farm had been ordered to isolate on Sunday on the property after at least 74 workers tested positive for the virus.

A spokesman from Iceland said: “Our store colleagues in Worcester have no recollection of this group visiting the store. We are confident that the store is following all company guidelines for social distancing, hygiene and operating processes to ensure a safe environment for colleagues and customers alike.”

A Primark spokesman said the store “cannot comment on speculation concerning these individuals’ whereabouts for confidentiality reasons.”

The spokesman said: “Nothing is more important to us than the safety and wellbeing of our customers and employees, and we have extensive safety measures in place across all our stores, including a strict social distancing protocol, personal protection for employees and customers and increased in-store cleaning. We are keeping the situation under constant review in line with government guidance.”