Coronavirus in Scotland: Aberlour Walkers Shortbread factory forced to close after Covid outbreak

A shortbread factory has been forced to close following an outbreak of coronavirus cases at one of its premises in Moray.

One of Walkers Shortbread’s sites in Aberlour has shut its doors this week after 37 positive cases were found to be linked to the town’s Factory SH2, the Press and Journal reports.

The first cases were confirmed last week and after a further 20 employees were instructed to self-isolate, the decision was made this week to close the premises.

It is understood 40 other workers at the site, which employs around 175 people, are on holiday which was another reason for its closure.

Employees work in the Walkers shortbread factory in Aberlour. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Other sites in the area owned by the company are still open for business as usual.

A Walkers spokesman told the Press and Journal: “Following further discussions with Track and Trace we contacted all staff from the factory, who we had told not to report to work this week and reminded them that they needed to isolate whilst away from work.

“We also told them that getting a test was recommended by authorities .

“All other factories, warehouses and despatch will be working as normal. The closure only affects the SH2 factory and the production and packing staff employed therein.”

The shortbread company has already been hit by Covid outbreaks this year.

In January, more than 30 staff had to self-isolate after cases were confirmed at the Walkers’ site in Elgin, Moray.

The company employs about 300 people in Elgin, and about 700 in Aberlour across several sites.

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