3 cases of COVID-19 at Guelph beef processing plant, union says

A Cargill beef processing plant in Guelph, Ont. has three confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to the union that represents workers there.

"It's a big concern. People are trying to go to work, and we want them to be safe and we want them to go home safe," Tim Deelstra said Thursday. Deelstra speaks for the union representing workers at the plant.

He told CBC News the union was made aware of the cases by Cargill earlier this week.

"We have tried to work with Cargill to make sure that we are aware as much as possible because we want to make sure our members in the facility are safe and secure," he said.

CBC News has reached out to Cargill for comment but had not heard back at the time of publishing.

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDG) said in an email to CBC News, they received an update from Cargill Thursday stating there were three cases that had been resolved, the last one being on May 10.

"There are currently no active cases," WDG Public Health said.

WDG Public Health adds the facility continues to actively screen for cases and are sending anyone who is ill or showing symptoms of COVID-19 home and asking them to get tested.

"They are maintaining infection controls and social distancing. They are having staff wear masks, installed Plexiglass barriers between staff on the line, using enhanced cleaning, strictly enforcing social distancing, and are actively screening staff on arrival and randomly throughout the shift," said public health.

More distancing measures, union asks

The beef processing plant on Dunlop Drive currently employs about 950 people, according to Cargill's website.

Cargill made changes such as staggering shifts and lunch breaks, enhancing the cleaning regime as well as installing physical barriers throughout the plant, Deelstra also said.

Deelstra says the union is in regular communication with its members and have heard concerns over the need for more physical distancing measures in some areas of the plant.

He believes those physical distancing measures should now be extended "as much as possible". 

"It could include separating workers on the line so that they have a two-metre distance between them," he said.

"We belive caution is the best principle with this."

Workers have been given personal protective equipment in lines where barriers have not been installed, he says.

Deelstra says the Guelph facility is still operating at 100 per cent capacity.

But he would support slowing down production.

"We understand that the food supply chain is important, and we want to see that continue to operate, but it shouldn't ever come at the cost of a worker's health and safety," he said.

"If that means that the production should be slightly reduced, we think that's sensible."

Deelstra adds the union is also advocating for the provincial government to make testing available to all meat plants in Ontario. 

There have been other cases of COVID-19 at meat plants in the region, including at Conestoga Meats. That location shut down for seven days at the end of April. 

And in Chambly, Que., a meat processing plant operated by Cargill shut down Wednesday after 64 workers were infected.