THE number of confirmed cases of coronavirus at a farm near Malvern has risen to 142.

Herefordshire Council and Public Health England (PHE) Midlands confirmed eight more workers have tested positive for the virus at Rook Row Farm at Mathon.

A joint statement from Public Health Midlands (West) and Herefordshire Council said: "A number of workers who have previously tested positive have now completed their period of self-isolation and are able to resume their daily activities.

"These workers are able to return to work or leave the farm. Those workers who have recently tested positive have been asked to remain on site and self-isolate to reduce risk of spread within the workforce and into the wider community.

"They are being provided with food and essential supplies during their ongoing period of isolation.

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"We are aware that local residents are concerned, but the risk to the general public remains low.

"We would like to remind people to wash your hands regularly, keep your distance, and use a face covering to help protect yourself and others. If you develop a fever, persistent dry cough, or have a loss or change in your sense of taste or smell, please call 119 to arrange a test."

More than 70 seasonal workers at the farm, run by AS Green and Co, tested positive in the initial outbreak last month.

Around 200 key workers are employed to carry out picking and packing work at the site, with the workforce living in mobile homes based on the site.

During the outbreak, they are all being treated as one extended bubble, being asked to remain on the farm during lockdown and stay within household groups.

READ MORE: Workers from Rook Row Farm revealed to have visited shops in Worcester and Malvern

Herefordshire Council is arranging food and essential supplies for residents on the site, while they self-isolate.

A short time later, Herefordshire MP Bill Wiggin confirmed workers from the farm had visited shops nearby including Malvern's Morrison's and Primark and Iceland in Worcester.

He said: “As many people will have seen on the news, a number of Covid-19 cases were detected on a farm in Mathon over the last weekend. 73 people have tested positive of which five are believed to be symptomatic.

"Public Health England have acted incredibly fast to locate the virus, test all those on-site and form a large ‘bubble’ at the farm.

"I commend the action so far taken and I believe this has been a very good example of the effectiveness of the work done to combat and neutralise mini-outbreaks of Covid-19 not only in the County but also county-wide.