A TOTAL of 30 employees have tested positive for coronavirus in one week at Hinkley Point C.

Around 1,000 tests per week are taking place at the site, based near Bridgwater, after bosses launched an extensive testing programme.

A spokesperson for Hinkley Point C said the company is sharing information with its employees regularly to keep them informed.

They said that the rate of Covid cases at the site in context with the size of the workforce was lower than the trends being seen among the general public.

The testing procedure at Hinkley had identified people who were asymptomatic which meant that staff were instantly able to take action and self-isolate as soon as they got the results.

Rob Jordan, HPC Construction Director, said: "Our testing arrangements are working very effectively. We are carrying out over 1,000 tests a week, which is what we set out to achieve.

"Last week we found 30 positive results from over 1,000 tests at site, each asymptomatic. Importantly, this means workers who were not showing symptoms are now aware and self-isolating.

"Our track and trace measures have identified close contacts who are also self-isolating in line with government requirements. This shows that the system is working exactly as it was designed to.

"In addition to the 16 full-time technicians working on testing, we have a further 24 people employed as 'Covid Champions' helping workers display the correct behaviours to minimise risk of infection.

"We continue to review and adapt our arrangements to keep us a Covid-secure place to work."