Second Nissan staff member at Sunderland plant tests positive for coronavirus

It is the second confirmed positive Covid-19 case at the site since production lines resumed last month – but the car manufacturer says the two cases are not linked.

An additional four members of staff are now self-isolating at home as a precaution in line with Public Health England’s guidance.

A Nissan spokesman said: “We are in close contact with a member of our team who is now recovering at home.

“We are working closely with Public Health England, and a further four members of our team will now begin a period of self-isolation.

“The safety of the team is our top priority and we will continue to follow all public health guidelines.

"We have a thorough and comprehensive set of proactive safety measures in place to protect our staff, which we will continue to review in line with public health advice.”

The second positive case at one of the region’s largest employers follows a warning by Sunderland Council’s Director of Public Health, Gillian Gibson, that the city stand on the ‘knife edge’ of coronavirus as number of new cases double in two weeks.

On July 14, Nissan confirmed one staff member had tested positive for Covid-19 which lead to an additional 14 workers isolating at home.

Nissan closed factory doors in March days before the Government announced a national lockdown in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ahead of the plant’s reopening on Monday, June 8, the firm says it had carried out hundreds of hours of preparation to ensure the safe return of employees.

Nissan, which employs more than 6,000 workers at its Sunderland plant, said every operation across the plant had been rigorously risk assessed to make sure it is safe, with more than 5,000 processes reviewed to ensure safety at all times.

From today (Friday, July 24), it is compulsory to wear a face covering in shops and supermarkets.

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