News

Two cases of coronavirus have been confirmed at an Angus textile firm that has been supplying PPE across the country.

Don & Low confirmed the positive tests and said close contacts have been told to quarantine.

The factory remains open and HR manager Paul Leigh said all appropriate safety measures were being taken.

One insider said workers on the factory floor were concerned about the lack of clear communication from bosses.

The source said: “We are all very worried about it, a lot of us have elderly parents or very young kids.

“No one from management has officially told us, we feel all they are concerned about is the product being made.”

Mr Leigh insisted all people identified as close contacts of the individuals concerned had been briefed.

He said: “We work shift patterns here, so not everyone will have been affected. But I have spent all of today talking to the relevant people.

“We have taken every measure possible to make it safe here.”

Mr Leigh said the technical textiles side of the business, where the positive cases have emerged, will close next week as a normal part of its shift operations.

“We operate a shift pattern which sees the factory close for a week now and other times through the year and this just so happens to be coming up now,” he added.

An Angus Council spokesman said the local authority was not aware of the situation.

NHS Tayside has been approached for comment.

Meanwhile, the outbreak of coronavirus among the student population in Dundee has spread to a new accommodation centre.

CRM Students, which runs The Hub on Hawkhill, has confirmed one of its residents has tested positive.

It follows an outbreak in Parker House and Meadowside Halls, where 98 students have already tested positive for the virus.

Five students from the same flat at The Hub are now in quarantine as a result of a single positive test.

Other flats in the building are not affected by any restrictions as of yesterday afternoon.

Around 500 people live in the halls, according to a spokesman. The person who tested positive studies at Dundee University.

A spokesman for CRM Students said: “We are working closely with Dundee University to ensure those affected have everything they need.

“As per corona virus guidance, the person who tested positive and their flatmates are now in quarantine.”

The spokesman could not say exactly when the positive result was confirmed but did say it was some time this week.