Outbreak of Covid-19 at Alconbury flower and fruit distributor

MM Flowers and AM Fresh are based at Alconbury, near Huntingdon, in Cambridgeshire

Fresh fruit and flower suppliers to major supermarkets have had an outbreak of Covid-19, public health officials have confirmed.

MM Flowers and AM Fresh UK, based on one site in Alconbury, Cambridgeshire, have seen 26 employees test positive.

The firms, which employ 550 full-time staff and 300 agency workers, said they were working with Public Health England to trace the source of the outbreak.

Public Health England said it would issue a statement later.

A spokeswoman for the flower company said: "Like many organisations, AM Fresh UK and MM Flowers have taken extensive steps to ensure the safety of their people and their continued operation providing fresh produce and cut flowers.

"Both businesses have adapted their processes in accordance with all government guidelines to create a Covid-19 secure site."

The firms employ 550 full-time staff and 300 agency workers

She added: "Measures include social distancing, extensive hygiene practices (deep cleaning of high-touch and high-traffic areas including packing facilities of both businesses), one-way systems within welfare areas, staggered shifts, Perspex screens and face coverings as further mitigations against the risk of transmission."

The firms are planning to test all of their staff as a "precautionary measure".

The most recently reported positive test at MM Flowers was on 18 July and within AM Fresh UK on 10 July.

Cambridgeshire County Council's public health director Dr Liz Robin said: "We are aware of a number of staff at MM Flowers who have tested positive for Covid-19 and are working closely with the factory and staff, Public Health England, and Huntingdonshire District Council's environmental health team to offer support and limit the spread of the virus."

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