An employee at a Covid-hit factory which supplies salad for Marks and Spencer has died after contracting coronavirus.

The worker was based at Bakkavor Tilmanstone, near Dover, which experienced a surge in cases in November, resulting in 139 members of staff being off work.

Unions are now calling for the factory to close for a deep clean and greater safety measures for workers after 70 staff tested positive for Covid and 69 were told to self-isolate.

Cases more than doubled from 35 in the third week of the month to 79 by the end of the month, according to figures released by the GMB Union.

The site - which remains open as it is classed as an essential workplace - is thought to employ more than 800 people but many are office staff who are currently working from home.

Staff on the production lines have continued to work on the factory floor throughout the pandemic as they are classified as key workers.

GMB says anyone forced to self-isolate should still receive full pay for a Covid-related absence and has demanded mass testing to all staff and a deep clean of the site.

'We have now seen the virus sweep through the factory at an alarming rate in just over four weeks...'

The union claimed the company has only agreed for staff to wear face masks following pressure earlier this year.

It has now launched a formal collective grievance against Bakkavor, which has 24 factories around Britain and also supplies to other major supermarket retailers.

The company was criticised in the summer at one of its other sites at Newark in Nottinghamshire for failing to enforce social distancing and face mask rules.

GMB organiser Frank Macklin said despite 25% of workers being impacted either through infection or isolation, Public Health England had not stepped in.

He added: “Bakkavor Tilmanstone Salads had only experienced a few positive cases of Covid-19 before November, but we have now seen the virus sweep through the factory at an alarming rate in just over four weeks.

“Sadly, the factory has now suffered a Covid-19 related fatality. GMB would like to express our deepest sympathies with this employee’s family at this difficult time.

"GMB has requested the facility close to allow mass testing of employees and a deep clean of the factory.

"Once this has been done, the factory can reopen with staff returning safe in the knowledge every step has been taken to ensure they are working in the safest possible environment.

"We also call on Bakkavor Tilmanstone Salads to pay employees their full salary if they have tested positive for Covid-19 or have to self-isolate. No one can survive on Statutory Sick Pay alone.

"GMB has now lodged a formal collective grievance on behalf of our members, as we believe the health and safety of our members has been seriously compromised at the factory."

'At this early point in the investigation there is no evidence that this case was contracted in the workplace...'

In response, a spokesman for Bakkavor said: "Sadly, one of our colleagues at Bakkavor Salads Tilmanstone has recently passed away after contracting COVID-19.

"At this early point in the investigation there is no evidence that this case was contracted in the workplace."

The statement said "stringent safety controls" were in place and staff had also been briefed on travelling safely to and from work.

It already had "very high standards of hygiene, extensive safety measures and good manufacturing practice" and had been working with Public Health England since the pandemic began, it added.

"We make them fully aware of our safety controls, we fully follow their guidance and, through 2020, we have had their endorsement for being vigilant in having good controls in place," it said.

The firm has been running its own internal track and trace process - and says it reports cases to PHE South East.

"Of a workforce of over 900 in Tilmanstone, we currently have 70 colleagues off work that have tested positive for COVID and an additional 69 who are self-isolating," said the spokesman.

"With this recent rise in cases, we have been re-briefing staff on the workplace controls that need to be followed and also of the importance of taking personal responsibility in following all the Covid guidelines outside the workplace.

"We also have Covid Marshalls in the business that manage adherence to strict workplace procedures and monitor safety for those car sharing, where we issue face masks."

On the call for mass testing, the spokesman said: "PHE South East has been and continue to be very supportive of the measures we have taken, and we are working closely with them to determine the next course of action. If this involves whole site testing, we will fully support this."

'The wellbeing of our people is a priority to us and it is a tragedy when a valued member of staff dies...'

The company said deep cleaning was part of its standard hygiene practices, with deep cleans carried out on a nightly basis, enhanced by a twice weekly virucidal clean since the start of the pandemic.

It has also adopted mask wearing at Tilmanstone site in line with PHE advice.

On sick pay, it said anyone off work would receive Statutory Sick Pay, including those who are self isolating.

The statement concluded: "The wellbeing of our people is a priority to us and it is a tragedy when a valued member of staff dies. "Our thoughts are with the family who we are supporting at this sad time, and we would ask that their privacy is respected."

A spokesman for M&S said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of this colleague at this sad time.

"Throughout the pandemic, M&S has been working closely with its suppliers to support them following government guidance and PHE advice.

"PHE are satisfied that Bakkavor is working hard to implement COVID-19 secure measures in their workplace and, to help Bakkavor, we have reduced the volume we are taking from the specific site at this time.”

Dr Imogen Stephens, health protection consultant with PHE South East, said: “We are aware of the an outbreak involving a site belonging to Bakkavor food manufacturing company in Kent which has sadly included the death of a worker. Firstly I would like to express my condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the person who has died.

“Public Health England is supporting the business to control the outbreak and limit the spread of infection. We are satisfied that the organisation is working hard to implement Covid-19 secure measures in their workplace.

“Kent is due to be put in Tier 3 from tomorrow which means the highest level of restrictions apply to the region which are designed to help reduce the spread of the virus. While the number of cases remain high, it’s important that everyone plays their part and adheres to social distancing measures, washes their hands regularly and wears a mask as per national guidance.”

PHE was first contacted by the factory on October 30. Cases started to escalate around two weeks ago and PHE held a meeting with bosses last Thursday - it was due to meet with them again today.

Head to our business page for all of the latest news about businesses in Kent

For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Dover