Maple Leaf Foods has resumed production at two of its processing facilities that were temporarily taken offline after people employed there tested positive for COVID-19.
Meanwhile, at least one worker at another facility tested positive for COVID-19, making it the fourth Maple Leaf Foods facility to have at least one confirmed case.
Brampton, Montreal plants reopen
Maple Leaf Foods reported on April 16 that its poultry processing plant in Brampton, Ontario, and its Viau meats plant in Montreal, Quebec, have resumed operations, with additional protective measures in place.
“In addition to the precautionary measures we are taking to protect our people, we are continuously updating our contingency plans and business continuity efforts, as well as working with our supply chain and industry partners. As a government designated essential service, we are committed to continuing to do our part to produce the food people need,” the company stated in a press release.
Operations were suspended at the Brampton plant, effective April 8, after three workers at the facility tested positive. During the closure, the company conducted a thorough investigation of the situation and did a deep cleaning of the plant. The company offered an update on the situation five days later, to report that the number of Brampton employees to test positive had growth to five.
At the Montreal Vaiu plant, which produces premium Italian cooked, dry-cured and charcuterie meats, two workers tested positive, according to a press release issued from the company on April 13.
In addition to the plants in Brampton and Montreal, one employee tested positive at its plant in Hamilton, Ontario. Operations continued in Hamilton, with extra precautions in place.
COVID-19 confirmed at fourth plant
Maple Leaf Foods late last week confirmed that there was one positive case at a fourth plant, but operations there continue.
Company spokeswoman Janet Riley, in an email to WATT Global Media, said one person who worked at the Maple Leaf Foods plant in Laval, Quebec, tested positive.
“Like our (Hamilton) plant, they’ve only had one case, and we were able to respond to the case without the need to suspend,” she said.
The company said it is communicating daily with employees affected by COVID-19 as they recover.
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