COVID-19 outbreak declared at Abbotsford poultry plant

Fraser Health declared a new COVID-19 outbreak Thursday at Rossdown Natural Foods Ltd’s poultry processing plant in Abbotsford, BC.

Nine staff have tested positive for the virus so far, the health authority said in a news release. It’s not yet necessary to close the plant, Fraser Health added.

Patients’ close contacts have been instructed to self-isolate, and further screening of staff is underway.

• See also:
  • Fraser Health closes Surrey poultry plant due to COVID-19 outbreak
  • More than 1,200 BC health workers have already received the COVID-19 vaccine

This is the second outbreak declared at a Lower Mainland poultry plant in as many days. On Wednesday, Fraser Health shut down Wingtat Game Bird Packers Inc. in Surrey.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says there’s no evidence to suggest consumers can catch COVID-19 from food, and no recalls on meat from the plant have been issued.