By Troy Gillard

First cases since August

Two Olymel employees test positive for COVID-19

Oct 29, 2020 | 5:04 PM

Two employees at the Olymel pork processing facility in Red Deer have tested positive this week for COVID-19.

This brings the total number of confirmed cases among employees at the facility to three after a worker tested positive for the virus back in August.

Olymel’s Red Deer plant employs over 1,850 people.

Company spokesperson Richard Vigneault says the first of this week’s cases did not result in any additional employees needing to isolate or go for COVID-19 testing.

The second case, he says, is tied to a recent social gathering outside of work. Five additional employees have gone for tests and are in isolation awaiting results.

no flag or crosswalk requests received

Didsbury citizens' group vehemently opposed to proposed 'Public Spaces Neutrality Bylaw'

20h ago

makin' stuff up!

Thurber improv team wins regionals, will head to Ottawa

21h ago

travel occurred march 10

Measles exposure reportedly travelled from Calgary to Red Deer, Edmonton and Grande Prairie

22h ago

All employees at the facility were notified of the latest cases by management on Thursday.

“We have recommended all employees to be very vigilant, especially with the coming Halloween weekend,” Vigneault shared,” and to respect mask wearing, hygiene, social distancing, and to be very, very aware of the consequences that come if they are not vigilant.”

Meantime, a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) employee from Calgary, who had been at the Olymel facility in Red Deer as recently as last Friday, also tested positive for the virus. Three additional CFIA employees were sent for COVID-19 tests which came back negative.