One Government building in Wales has large outbreak - 500 positive and one death

[kiwibird]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...-understand-severity-of-deadly-covid-outbreak

The government agency responsible for the country’s largest workplace outbreak initially failed to grasp the seriousness of the situation as the virus spread through its offices, with public health officials identifying a litany of inadequacies and failings.
...
Carolyn Harris, the MP for Swansea East, whose constituency includes the agency’s offices in the city, said the briefing showed the crisis, which the Observer revealed has seen more than 500 staff test positive since September, had been mishandled by the DVLA. “They didn’t invite Public Health Wales and the council in. They had to be dragged kicking and screaming,” she said. “They have overseen a diabolical and outrageous situation, which has put people in danger.”
....
The incident-control team found that the DVLA was running a 24-hour-a-day shift system, with hot-desking. Staff were gathering around scanning equipment and face coverings were not appropriate. Officials were especially concerned about workers catching Covid while travelling into work on DVLA buses in October. But the briefing claims that the agency failed to provide the team with the contact details of 11 staff who had travelled on a bus with a colleague who tested positive for Covid. It also details allegations from the bus company that it had been told there was “a threat over the ongoing contract” with DVLA if it implemented control measures. The DVLA denied the allegations.

There is no mandate for masks to be worn at work in the UK, even where ventilation is poor and social distancing is impossible. Masks are required to be worn on public transport and also in shops. On a personal note - I know of three different businesses who have had Covid throughout their workforce and none wore masks at work.