Coronavirus: Outbreak among staff at Tesco Extra supermarket in Swindon

There has been an outbreak of coronavirus among staff at a Tesco supermarket in Swindon.

The company said a small number of its employees at the Extra store in Ocotal Way had been infected with the virus in recent days, and those who had tested positive were self-isolating at home.

No delivery drivers have been infected and the shop remains open.

"The safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority," said a Tesco spokesman.

"We have introduced extensive measures across all of our stores to help keep everyone safe, including protective screens at every checkout, social distancing signage and regular deep cleaning."

The outbreak comes days after around 51 workers at an Iceland warehouse tested positive for COVID-19 in Swindon.

Health chiefs said mobile testing teams had been called in after the cluster of cases, and that many of the new cases being picked up were asymptomatic.

Swindon Borough Council's cabinet member for adults and health, Brian Ford, said the town's recent spike in coronavirus cases was driven by the outbreak at the Iceland food distribution centre.

Three crew members at Swindon's fire station were also found to have the disease, while local Honda and Royal Mail depots suffered "small outbreaks" as a result of lockdown restrictions being eased.

The map below shows Swindon's seven-day case rate is among the highest in the UK, at 47.3 per 100,000 people.

Steve Maddern, director of public health for Swindon, said: "Small outbreaks are expected as a result of relaxing lockdown arrangements and as people return to work.

"We have developed a local outbreak management plan to supplement and support the national test and trace service, and to ensure that Swindon can respond swiftly to help manage a local outbreak or hotspot.

"The council is currently responding to a small number of COVID-19 cases, and these people are isolating in accordance with the government's self-isolation guidance."

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Mike Wade, consultant in health protection at Public Health England South West, said "everyone should be following social distancing advice, both in and out of work," to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"Good hygiene is the best prevention and there are some simple steps you can take to protect you, your family and colleagues by washing your hands regularly and thoroughly and if you cough, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue," he added.