March 10, 2021

Olymel swine plant in Alberta, Canada reopens following COVID-19 related shutdown

Major Canadian meat producer Oylmel LP has reopened its Red Deer, Alberta pork-processing plant gradually following a temporary shutdown because of COVID-19 infections among its workers, Reuters reported.

Richard Vigneault, Olymel spokesman, said the plant is currently operating at 50% capacity and will return to normal operations after a few weeks.

The plant is able to slaughter 45,000 swine per week.

Vigneault said three workers died from COVID-19 and hundreds more were infected with the virus. He said there are currently 48 active COVID-19 cases, as many have recovered.

The spokesman also said Olymel has implemented enhanced social distancing protocols at the plant since it was reopened on March 4. There is rapid voluntary testing on site conducted by Alberta Health Services.

Before the plant's temporary closure, the company said it had moved some swine raised on its own farms to meatpackers in the United States to avoid a backlog, adding that it will aim to clear a backlog of 80,000 to 90,000 swine four to five weeks after reopening the plant.

- Reuters