The Olymel plant at Red Deer is being temporarily closed after an outbreak of COVID-19.

Reports suggest there were over 300 confirmed cases and 192 active cases connected to the outbreak.

After notifying the union, Olymel set up a temporary closing plan for an indefinite period at its Red Deer hog slaughter, cutting and deboning plant.

Management says despite close collaboration with Alberta Health Services, as well as testing protocols and sanitary measures currently in place, they felt conditions were not in place to continue normal operations at the plant in a safe and efficient manner.

Plant management is mobilizing the staff necessary to cease operations and temporarily close the facility.

Olymel has informed all hog suppliers of the Red Deer plant on the situation and has suspended all pending deliveries until further notice.

The company is in contact with AHS and continues to work on the situation, while ongoing investigations continue to determine what may have caused the outbreak.