UPDATE:

The JR Simplot Company just west of Portage la Prairie has confirmed that two staff members have tested positive for COVID-19.

After the company was notified on Monday that one employee had tested positive, Senior Manager of Communications and Public Relations Josh Jordan explains they worked with the individual to identify any other employees with whom they may have come in contact. He says they identified 12 other employees who had come in contact with the individual, either inside or outside of the workplace.

The 12 employees were notified and tested for COVID-19. They are now self-isolating for two weeks. 9 of the 12 tests came back negative and one came back positive. The results of two tests are still pending.

"We then contact-traced the second employee [who had tested positive] and identified two other employees who had been in contact [with that employee]. Those two employees have now been tested and are also in self-quarantine."

As of Friday morning, of the 15 employees, two have confirmed positive cases of the virus, nine have tested negative and four are awaiting their results. All are self-isolating.

Jordan says they are working to identify whether the second employee who tested positive did so as a result of contact with the first employee or whether they contracted the virus outside of the facility. He adds the health and safety of the Simplot employees, their families and the communities where they live is of the utmost importance and the company is doing everything they can to ensure that safety.

"We have been able to leverage experience that we've had around the world to try to ensure that we're implementing the processes and procedures to ensure the health and safety of our employees," says Jordan. "To this point, we have had some success with that and we will continue to strive to do that."

Jordan says since March, cleaning processes within the plant have increased, particularly in high-traffic areas and food handling areas. Social distancing measures are also in place. He says upon learning of the positive test, all areas of the facility where the individual had been were immediately cleaned.

The plant remains open. The Public Health Agency of Canada, among other national and international regulatory organizations, has stated that there is no evidence at COVID-19 can be transmitted through food.

 

ORIGINAL STORY:

The JR Simplot Company just west of Portage la Prairie has confirmed that two staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. The news came Monday when the company learned that one worker tested positive for the virus.

Josh Jordan is media spokesperson and says 12 staff who worked near the employee were tested and one more also tested positive.

Stay posted for more.