A Tipperary mushroom plant has suspended operations after a COVID-19 outbreak in recent days.
Walsh Mushrooms said a worker at the plant in golden tested positive after going into self-isolation.
A number of other new confirmed cases were then detected among close contacts of the worker at the factory.
The HSE will now launch a testing programme throughout the plant which employs around 150 people.
In a statement, the company said this is the first outbreak it has had to deal with.
“As a business, we have stringent measures in place to control COVID-19 since March and we have had no incidence of COVID-19 up to this point,” he said.
“We are working with the HSE and all relevant authorities assisting in contact tracing and testing of all staff.
“We will use the opportunity to deep clean the plant during the temporary closure. Essential maintenance will continue at the facility.”
The company said the “safety, wellbeing and protection of our employees, their families and the local community” is its number one priority.
