KIRKLEES Council has defended its decision to keep the location of a coronavirus outbreak secret from the public.

News of the outbreak first emerged during yesterday's Downing Street press briefing, when Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the manual tracing system had helped control local outbreaks in “parts of Leicester” and Kirklees, with mobile testing units sent in to help track down positive cases.

This prompted the Council to issue a statement, where Director of Public Health Rachel Spencer-Henshall confirmed the authority had been made aware of a number of positive cases "at a workplace in Kirklees", but gave no further details. 

Speculation grew over the location of the outbreak and it was eventually confirmed it was at the Cleckheaton-based Kober meat packing factory, which supplies major supermarket chain Asda.

The number of cases has not been confirmed, but the factory will be closed for the next week as a precaution.

The company is also owned by Asda, which bought the business outright through its Normanton-based company International Produce Limited in 2016.

Kirklees Council has been criticised over its decision not to disclose the location.

As the news broke, one person said on Twitter: "Why not say where it is and why be vague about the number of positive cases? Without giving the information people are more likely to worry unnecessarily."

Another person added: "Why the secrecy, would appreciatemore information, so that we can be extra vigilant. Surely this is vital information for residents of Kirklees."

They were accused of taking a "cloak and dagger" approach. It's understood the Council became aware of the outbreak in the middle of last week.

Councillor John Lawson, Liberal Democrat councillor for Cleckheaton, said he did not have firm information on numbers of cases, but said he got the impression there are “multiple cases”.

He said: “There is understandably that need for confidentiality for individuals with coronavirus, that is understandable. However, there needs to be a balance - that confidentiality and the public is aware that there’s something going on in their neighbourhood or vicinity.

"They need to have confidence in the system and processes, but also if there is something going on in their area, they need to focus. It’s about focusing people’s minds.”

Professor John Baruch, who was head of cybernetics at the University of Bradford for 10 years and who set-up the Bradford Science Collective, a group of people with a scientific background, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, said: "The really important thing to protect people is to get everybody who has had any potential contact, tested.

"The testing and pursuing testing resources is really the most important thing.

"I would think, to do that effectively, you need people coming forward and volunteering.

"In order to find the contacts, people need to know where it [the outbreak] is."

Defending the decision not to disclose the location of the outbreak, Kirklees Council said: "Disclosing the location doesn’t help combat the spread of infection and could actually have a negative impact on us fighting the virus.

"We want all businesses to act in the same responsible way as this one has done because it has helped us contain the spread in the fastest way possible.

"If we disclose the location and name of any business or organisation we seriously risk discouraging others from coming forward.

"We also risk breaching patient confidentiality by disclosing this."

The Council added: "People who might have come into contact with an infected individual, relating to this or any other outbreak or case will be contacted directly. 

"Everyone needs to continue to socially distance, wash hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap and water and get tested if they have symptoms."

Meanwhile, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has confirmed it is investigating.

A spokesperson said: “HSE are working with the Local Authority and PHE to investigate the incidents of COVID-19 at the meat processing plant in Cleckheaton.”

What has Kirklees Council said about the outbreak?

What has happened?

We have been informed that a number of staff at a business in Kirklees have tested positive for Coronavirus.

As soon as we became aware of this issue, we acted quickly to work with Public Heath England as well as the business and their staff to limit any further potential spread.

Has it been contained?

We are testing the whole workforce and tracing and contacting everyone who is a contact of a positive case. 

According to government guidance, the period of self isolation for any contact is 14 days. We will be working with the workplace until that period of time has ended to ensure all the relevant action has been taken.

Why has this happened in Kirklees?

The detection of outbreaks of COVID-19 are now likely to become more common across the country with the introduction of Test and Trace. This case in Kirklees is an early example of this new system being implemented.

Has anyone died as a result of this outbreak?

Our latest information is that no one who has tested positive is seriously ill or has died. 

Should I be concerned about this?

Please be reassured that people who might have come into contact with an infected individual will be contacted directly through the test and trace system. We will continue to work with the employer and Public Health England to manage the outbreak.

People in the wider community should continue to follow national government guidance around social distancing, hand washing and to get a test if you have symptoms.

Why can’t we disclose where the outbreak is?

Disclosing the location doesn’t help combat the spread of infection and could actually have a negative impact on us fighting the virus.

We want all businesses to act in the same responsible way as this one has done because it has helped us contain the spread in the fastest way possible.

If we disclose the location and name of any business or organisation we seriously risk discouraging others from coming forward.

We also risk breaching patient confidentiality by disclosing this.

If I know where the outbreak is, surely I can better protect myself?

This isn’t true.

People who might have come into contact with an infected individual, relating to this or any other outbreak or case will be contacted directly.  

Everyone needs to continue to socially distance, wash hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap and water and get tested if they have symptoms.

Are schools affected?

The test and trace process would identify contacts of all the cases. If school children are affected they will be self-isolating as part of their bubble to keep schools safe.

Do I need to avoid leaving the house?

No. Providing you have not been contacted and told otherwise, you can continue to leave the house following the latest government advice; you can find that here.