ONE of the district's largest employers has responded to reports that staff had been sent home due to a coronavirus outbreak.
Earlier this week, Berry - the operators of the bottle factory at Plenmeller, near Haltwhistle - confirmed that "a number of employees" had tested positive for coronavirus.
It followed a surge of cases in the Haltwhistle area.
The Courant understands that some staff have been sent home until after Christmas, and only certain orders are being completed.
When asked whether most staff had been sent home, a spokesman for Berry said: "We can confirm that the plant is still running to enable us to meet essential customer orders.
"We are continuing to operate in strict accordance with the Government’s Covid-19 protocols to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees.”
Berry employs approximately 170 employees in Plenmeller.
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