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Cargill resumes work at Guelph, Ont., plant following COVID-19 outbreak

Click to play video: 'New report shows Canadian food processing vulnerabilities'
New report shows Canadian food processing vulnerabilities
A new report out of the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy is pinpointing vulnerabilities of 'megascale' slaughterhouses and meat-packing plants during global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. – Dec 17, 2020

Cargill says work is resuming at its meat processing plant in Guelph, Ont., after it was shut down earlier this month due to a COVID-19 outbreak.

The company said some employees returned to work on Tuesday and Wednesday with more expected back in the new year.

A COVID-19 outbreak was declared on Dec. 4 and the plant on Dunlop Drive halted operations on Dec. 17.

As of Tuesday, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health has confirmed 143 cases connected to the outbreak, including 55 active cases.

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“The health and safety of our employees continue to be our top priority,” Cargill spokesperson Daniel Sullivan said.

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“In addition to safety measures we implemented at our facilities months ago, we have taken time during the idle to conduct a full, deep-clean of the facility as an additional step to respond to the community-wide impacts of the virus.”

Cargill said employees should be healthy and not have had contact with anyone infected with COVID-19 for 14 days before they return to work.

The company had previously said employees who are off the job due to COVID-19 will be paid for 36 hours per week as outlined in their collective agreement with the union.

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