Worker tests positive for coronavirus at Lilydale plant in Calgary

The Lilydale meat processing plant in Calgary becomes the latest facility to have an employee test positive for COVID-19, sparking calls for the plant to temporarily shut down and leading to more questions about food safety.

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – An employee at a Calgary chicken processing plant has tested positive for COVID-19.

The Union of Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) 401 confirmed a worker at the Lilydale plant in Ramsay is now sick with the virus.

Spokesperson Michael Hughes with the union said they are calling for the immediate closure of the plant for 14 days adding “the company has been responsive to questions which stands in contrast to difficulties at Cargill and JBS.”

Hughes said they have contacted Sofina Foods, which operates the Lilydale plant saying there has been “good dialogue” but no confirmation the plant will close.

WATCH: Occupational Health and Safety investigate meat plant outbreaks

In a statement to 660 NEWS, Sofina Foods said, “The employee has been self-isolating at home and is doing well. We had anticipated this possibility as part of our COVID-19 business continuity planning and had identified proactive measures to mitigate risks to our employees.”

“A lot of initiatives were already in place following guidance and best practices from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the industry.”

The company said all workers who may have come in close contact with the employee were also asked to self-isolate at home and monitor their health.

“When COVID-19 started spreading in Canada, we took quick actions to protect our employees, such as more frequent disinfection of offices, equipment and common areas, physical distancing where feasible, staggered breaks, Plexiglas separations for employees working in production, enhanced communication on good hygiene practices, providing face shields to employees and temperature checks for anyone entering one of our facilities. This gave us a significant head start to promptly and effectively address this type of incident.”

During her update to Albertans on Thursday, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Deena Hinshaw spoke on the Lilydale case.

“To date, this is the only identified case at this plant so it is not considered an outbreak. AHS is working with the plant to ensure that prevention measures are in place and plant operations have slowed due to the number of staff currently on isolation.”

“AHS is offering testing to all employees, even those without symptoms.”

This positive test comes after hundreds were reported at the Cargill meat plant in High River.

That facility has temporarily closed while the JBS Canada plant in Brooks remains open despite reporting nearly 100 cases.

RELATED: High River meatpacking plant temporarily stopping production

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is now investigating those two plants.

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