August 3, 2020

Puerto Montt, Chile's salmon hub, in lockdown following recent COVID-19 cases

The city of Puerto Montt, known as Chile's salmon aquaculture hub, has entered into quarantine on July 29 as the Chilean government attempts to keep COVID-19 under control.

The reporting of 100 new cases daily for  four straight days in the Los Lagos Region -- which Puerto Montt is the capital of -- has prompted authorities' action. The south of the city is where most of its hatcheries, fisheries and packing plants are located. From there, fresh salmon and frozen salmon are delivered to destinations outside Chile.

Puerto Montt is the gateway to Chiloé Island across the Chacao Channel, where many salmon farming centers are also located.

"All the plants and cultivation centers of the companies affiliated with our association show high degrees of care for their workers, and in the midst of this pandemic, they have implemented new measures to prevent the presence of COVID-19, including testing workers, temperature controls, and increased sanitation of common spaces,"  salmon farming industry association SalmonChile had said in June. "Furthermore, salmon producing regions maintain the lowest prevalence rate of contagion in the country."

Workers in industries that are deemed essential, including the fish production and other food industries, are permitted to operate at their workplaces during the lockdown.

- SeafoodSource