Daily tests detect infections
In the daily PCR tests of all around 1.000 employees in the Hamm-Uentrop meat center, the external laboratories found a total of 39 positive cases over the past two weeks. The Westfleisch company has had all employees tested every day since last summer in order to identify and break infection chains as quickly as possible. Since then, a total of over 150.000 tests have been carried out in Hamm alone.
"We are in close and very trusting exchange with all those responsible at the city of Hamm," explains Johannes Steinhoff, board member of Westfleisch SCE. "With our PCR tests, the results of which are usually available before the start of the next shift, with additional quick tests and clear quarantine rules, we can effectively prevent corona entries in our company."
Those who tested positive are all accommodated in specially rented accommodation, in which they are looked after by Westfleisch. A security service monitors compliance with the quarantine. The around 60 first-degree contact persons are also all in quarantine. In the meantime, production continues in the slaughterhouse. "We can continue to reliably remove their animals from our contract farmers," emphasizes Steinhoff. As a purely precautionary measure, another 85 employees who tested negative, who are also not category 1 contact persons, are doing so-called voluntary commuting. You only move between work and place of residence.
