Nova Scotia poultry plant closes due to COVID-19 outbreak
The Eden Valley Poultry processing plant in Berwick, Nova Scotia has closed for two weeks after a case of the novel coronavirus was reported, potentially restricting the community’s turkey supply ahead of Christmas.According to reporting in CBC, public heath authorities ordered the closure of the Eden Valley plant last week after confirming two cases of COVID-19 among plant workers. Extended testing identified four additional cases. Results are still pending and there are plant to re-test employees next week.
The closure of the plant has been a blow to the community. Eden Valley is Berwick’s biggest employer, and Mayor Don Clarke told the CBC that the economic impact of the two-week closure will be difficult to calculate.
However, Clarke and many Berwick residents say that the plant’s two-week closure is probably worth the economic cost.
Speaking to the CBC, Clarke said, “having COVID in a plant that size with that many people in confined spaces and so on, is a serious situation.”
“What they’re doing is the necessary thing to do.”