Slaughter and processing has slowed at the Better Beef plant Cargill owns in Guelph because 21 workers have tested positive for COVID-19 and 80 others are staying home because they had close contact.
Tim Deelstra, the spokesperson for United Food and Commercial Workers Locals 175 and 633, said his union, the company and Wellington-Dufferin Public Health Unit are in constant communication to address the outbreak.
There was another outbreak at the plant in May and then the company and the union worked on measures to reduce the risks that the virus would spread.
Daniel Sullivan, a media relations director for Cargill, said there has been an increasing number of cases in Guelph as a community. In fact, the medical officer of health has asked that Guelph be moved into the more-restrictive red zone.
"The employees were not working at the time and are self-quarantined following our detailed screening process.
“They are receiving appropriate medical care and support," he said.
