This week, our Whitehaven readers got talking about Covid-19 rates doubling at Sellafield nuclear site.

Numbers of cases among those employed on the site rose from 320 in the week to Wednesday 29, up to 712 in the week to January 5.

Britain’s biggest nuclear site witnessed their case numbers rise by 392 in the first week of the year.

Sellafield’s CEO Martin Chown said: " “In January there will be significantly fewer people coming in to work on site, this is because we have already reviewed who needs to be on site in light of the government’s Plan B restrictions and guidance to work from home where possible and effective.

"Our people coming onto the Sellafield site in the first weeks of 2022 all need to be there: our operators and maintainers who do such an essential job of keeping our plants safe and secure; our contractors delivering the major construction projects; the day support staff who need to interact to support those reducing hazard and risk; our security staff, bus drivers, cleaners and so many others who play their part in keeping the site running," he said.

Our readers were quick to respond.

Alex Rayment on Facebook wrote: "HEPA air filters are available almost everywhere online and along with opening windows have been proven to reduce Covid-19 particles. Has management on site installed any on site?"

David Gannet Draper said: "Been rife on site for a long long time and its just getting mentioned off site now".

George Crayston wrote:"What a shock."

To which Joe Huck replied: "Lots of people on site boss, large numbers of people, a bit like pubs, breeding grounds. But we’ve got to work so it can’t really be avoided only reduced."