By Troy Gillard

Over 1,500 employees

First confirmed COVID-19 case at Red Deer pork processing plant

Aug 17, 2020 | 4:41 PM

A pork processing plant in Red Deer that employs over 1,500 people has recorded its first confirmed case of COVID-19.

Olymel spokesperson Richard Vigneault says a worker at their Red Deer facility came to work showing symptoms of the novel coronavirus last Monday, Aug. 10. They were sent home and went for a test the following day. Two days later, on Thurs. Aug. 13, the test came back positive.

A total of 13 other workers who may have come into contact with the infected individual have been sent home as a precaution, including six on Friday and seven more on Monday. Vigneault says none of them have shown symptoms of COVID-19 but were recommended to also get tested.

Olymel officials have notified all employees at the facility of the situation.

Occupational Health and Safety were also notified.

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Vigneault says extensive preventative measures in place have kept their Red Deer plant from being hit hard by COVID-19 as other meat processing facilities in the province have been.

“They will continue as long as there is a pandemic,” he notes. “We hope that this employee recovers very soon and that the 13 others will be OK.”