Manitoba poultry plant employee dies from COVID-19

The Exceldor Co-operative poultry plant in Blumenort, Man., formerly known as Granny's Poultry, on Oct. 21, 2020. (Source: Josh Crabb/ CTV News Winnipeg)

WINNIPEG — An employee at the poultry plant in Blumenort, Man. has died after contracting COVID-19.

A spokesperson for Exceldor, the company that runs the plant, confirmed the news to CTV News in an email, saying the employee died on Oct. 11.

The spokesperson said the employee was a 42-year-old man and he contracted COVID-19 outside of work.

"We were shocked and saddened by this sudden event," the spokesperson said.

According to the company, it has been in contact with the man's relatives.

The secretary-treasurer for UFCW Local 832, the union that represents the plant workers, said they are saddened by the news.

"We're all very sad to hear that one of our members passed away on Thanksgiving weekend. We want to offer our sympathies to the family and friends of this individual," said Bea Bruske in an email to CTV News.

Exceldor confirmed on Wednesday that there are 27 cases of COVID-19 within the plant.

Dr. Brent Roussin, the province's chief provincial public health officer, said as of Thursday, 13 of the cases are active.

Roussin confirmed no transmission has happened within the plant adding some of the cases are linked to community transmission and he cited carpooling as a factor for the spread.

The plant has 650 employees and it is still operating.

- With files from CTV's Danton Unger