Major COVID-19 outbreak at an Olymel meat processing facility in the Beauce region
Source: CBC News
Oct 21, 2020 - Union officials report as many as 80 confirmed cases and say one employee has died.
Workers at an Olymel meat-packing plant in the Beauce region are being tested for COVID-19, after a weekend outbreak infected dozens of employees.
The union representing the facility's 1,200 employees said 80 people have tested positive so far.
"People are still working, but they're worried. There are some who are still waiting for test results," said Martin Maurice, president of the Syndicat des travailleurs d'Olymel Vallée-Jonction.
A 65-year-old worker, who tested positive for COVID-19, died on Tuesday. The company issued a statement mourning the employee's passing and confirmed the test result. It also said "an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of his death and whether it was related to COVID-19."
The statement also said Olymel called in the regional public health authority over the weekend to undertake a mass testing campaign given "the factory is situated in a red zone and several employees have presented symptoms despite the rigorous application of significant sanitary measures."