Scottish abattoir Quality Pork Processors has suspended operations at its Brechin site after confirming 34 positive cases of COVID-19. Local officials from the National Health Service’s (NHS’s) public health team said the number of cases reported at the site were an ‘expected increase’ and that additional positive cases had begun self-isolating. Last week, the pork processor reported 19 cases of COVID-19 at the site and planned to shut down operations for at least a fortnight from January 23, according to local publication The Courier. The decision to close was taken due to “ high absenteeism”. Working closely with authorities Associate director of Public Health and chair of the Incident Management Team (IMT) Dr Ellie Hothersall said: