Kildare Chilling is unlikely to be taking sheep in the early part of this week, as the company awaits a second batch of test results for Covid-19, AgriLand understands.

Operations at the Co. Kildare plant were originally suspended on August 4, following the discovery of a number of Covid-19 cases there.

It is understood that there will be no sheep kill today, and no quotes are being offered at the moment.

Suppliers were told over the weekend that the processor is “unlikely to be taking sheep at the early part of the week”.

Last week, suppliers were told there was no definite date set for the resumption of operations, as the business was “awaiting results from testing all the staff”, and that “results [are] slow to come out”.

The plant was also in the process of a ‘wash-down’ last week to sanitise the facility, which was “nearly completed”.

Carroll Cuisine given green light to reopen

In other news related to Covid-19 and food processing, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) have approved the reopening of the Carroll Cuisine facility in Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

The latest HSE testing for Covid-19 among staff at the plant have “proved 100% negative” according to a statement from the food business.

This comes after the company temporarily suspended operations last Monday, August 10, while waiting for the results of tests.

“[The HSE and HSA] have confirmed to us that we have all necessary processes in place to allow for a reopening of our facility,” the company said in a statement.