The Boparan-owned 2 Sisters Food Group, the frozen retail poultry operation, has seen the number of workers with COVID-19 at its Llangefni factory in Anglesey rise to 158.
Dr Christopher Johnson from Public Health Wales said 400 staff had been tested since the outbreak was confirmed on Thursday. He confirmed, 'As of 15:00 BST on Sunday 21 June we have recorded an increase of 83 confirmed positive cases identified over the past 24 hours.
'Testing of employees continues, and it is likely that some additional cases will be identified in the coming days.
'The increase in cases is as we anticipated when a focused track and trace programme is implemented, and does not mean that the spread of infection is increasing.'
All staff at the 2 Sisters meat processing plant in Llangefni have been self-isolating since last Thursday and the site has been temporarily closed.
The company issued a statement: 'The health, safety and wellbeing of our colleagues is ultimately the thing that matters most at our business. We are a responsible company with people at its core. Without our people we are nothing.
'Therefore in light of the current COVID-19 cases at our Llangefni site, we have decided to take the necessary action to clearly demonstrate how seriously we take this issue by doing the right thing.
'Doing the right thing means that we will temporarily suspend production at our Llangefni site with immediate effect for a period of 14 days.
'We will not tolerate any unnecessary risks – however small – for our existing loyal workforce at the facility.
'We have worked in close collaboration in the past week with Public Health Wales, Anglesey Council, the Health & Safety Executive, FSA and the Unite union who have all offered great advice, scientific knowledge and support, and we thank them for their help and guidance, which has informed this decision.
'Our sole focus now is to ensure we support all our colleagues through this time and look forward to operating safely and securely in 14 days’ time.'