Canada Live NEWS – 24/7 Breaking Headlines & Updates Canada Live News is one of the largest news curating sites across Canada which is made exclusively for Canadian people.
Following the death of one of their own, Olymel employees at Vallée-Jonction are still worried about contracting the virus, even though public health authorities consider that there is no need to close the plant, despite the explosion cases.
• Read also: All developments in the COVID-19 pandemic
• Read also: COVID-19: the mayor of Lévis worries about the “explosion” of cases in Chaudière-Appalaches
“Instead of lowering the production lines, the employer increased them. It puts people who are not trained on workstations, ”worries Martin Maurice, president of the union of workers of Olymel, in Vallée-Jonction.
Late Wednesday evening, the union asked the employer to close the plant for two weeks or to test all 1,050 workers or at least those who have not yet been. The closure of the plant is not envisaged by Olymel.
“Of course we are disappointed, there are people who are worried because they are working with other people who are waiting for a test. Workers who passed the factory tests with public health always continued to work. Only those who have taken tests outside the factory with symptoms are in isolation pending their results, ”said Maurice.
What the numbers say
On the side of the CISSS Chaudière-Appalaches, it is confirmed that 159 screenings have been carried out and that 40 people have contracted the virus. The employer says there are 54.
“The screening continues and other results are expected at midday today (Thursday),” said Mireille Gaudreau, spokesperson, stressing that there is a gap between the data that are counted and those that are disseminated.
Nevertheless, the regional public health directorate considers that it is not necessary to close the plant and made its recommendations to ensure the application of preventive measures, added Ms. Gaudreau.
The union still maintains that it is rather around 80 people who are infected.
“On Tuesday there were 40 people who tested positive and there are 20 other cases that returned yesterday (Wednesday). I add to that about twenty “connected” people, that is to say, who live with positive people and who have automatically left the workplace. These people will not be tested because they are automatically declared positive, ”said Maurice.
The update to be made on Thursday afternoon should provide more information. Mr. Maurice adds that Olymel workers come from all over the greater Quebec City region and not only from the Chaudière-Appalaches region.
Start of hatching
The outbreak at the plant began on September 22. A massive screening of the day shift took place on October 19 and 20 among the employees of the cutting room where there was a concentration of cases.
During the Journal’s appeal on Thursday morning, two new confirmed cases were added to the union’s list.
The employer claims to be making every effort to contain the outbreak.
“Today, a communication will be sent to all employees concerning the conclusions of the visit by public health authorities, with the CNESST and the union”, informed Richard Vigneault, spokesperson.
“According to this report, there is no reason to expand screening to other areas of the plant. There will be a protocol in place for cutting room employees telling workers what to do if they have not yet been tested. When you have symptoms, you have to report them. When you have a mask to wear, you have to keep it. All these reminders will be made, ”said Mr. Vigneault.
