ABP Food Group has confirmed 22 cases of Covid-19 at its processing plant in Cahir, following the testing of 460 staff.
The tests were carried out after consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), the company says.
All close contacts of those impacted are currently self-isolating. Testing of close contacts of positive cases at the plant by the HSE has identified an additional 16 cases.
The total number of positive cases as a result of this testing is 38, an ABP spokesperson said.
The development follows on from confirmation on Thursday last (August 20) of eight cases following testing of the close contacts of one staff member who had originally tested positive the previous Friday.
On foot of those eight positive cases, it was decided that all staff at the plant would be tested.
This testing was carried out by a private company in conjunction with the HSE for the purpose of alleviating the pressure on local Covid-19 testing.
The original positive case (on Friday, August 12) had been referred for testing after the employee in question was screened through the companies factory entrance employee assessment procedures.
In a statement today, ABP reiterated the measures it had in place to mitigate against Covid-19, and that “staff safety and public health is our priority and ABP will continue to work proactively and take direction and guidance from both the HSE and the HSA [Health and Safety Authority] in relation to the matter.