• Staff member at store tested positive for Covid
• Hunt cancelled due to Covid concerns
• Care Home given all clear

It has been confirmed that five employees at QD Stores in Calais Street were tested positive for Covid-19.

Reports had surfaced of confirmed cases among staff members, although the store has remained open, and a QD spokesperson admitted shop workers had been told to isolate.

A statement issued by QD, said: "Track and Trace has contacted everyone they felt necessary following these cases and asked them to isolate as per the standard legal requirements. We have followed all guidance from the local Track and Trace office and have done everything we have been advised to do.

"As in all our stores, we have been maintaining strict cleaning regimes in Hadleigh throughout the pandemic. As an additional precaution, we have also completed a deep clean with a fogging system in this store as per our agreed company contingency for Covid.

"Should the local Track & Trace determine that anyone needs to isolate who may have visited the store, they will be in contact with them directly. However, the limited contact, social distancing, screens and cleaning that has been taking place within the store should ensure that our customers will not be affected."

Meanwhile, the controversial annual Boxing Day hunt has been called off due to concerns over the coronavirus.

The Essex and Suffolk Hunt traditional meet in the Hadleigh town centre but organisers have confirmed the hunt will no longer take place in public, although could still go ahead in private.

A Countryside Alliance spokeswoman said: "Subject to the government guidance in place at the time, it is anticipated that hunting activities will still take place on Boxing Day, but like so many other leisure and sporting events, these will sadly have to take place behind closed doors.

"Over a quarter of a million people usually support Boxing Day meets each year so we appreciate that seeing the hounds and watching the spectacle of the meet is often one of the highlights of the annual festive activities for so many in the local area."

Separately, Nub News reported earlier this week how Magdalen House care home in Hadleigh had been given the all clear by the CQC. Full story here...

Although confirmed Covid-19 cases and Babergh are not a bad as many places in the rest of the country, Suffolk as whole remains in Tier Two.