Industry has now reduced workforce by 50 per cent.
Aqua.cl reports that the salmon farmer has confirmed its first case confirmed of the COVID-19 of one of its workers at Talcahuano Plant, Biobío region, Central Chile.
The news was first reported in Resumen.
The worker, a 35-year-old on-site electrician, fell ill and was tested for the virus, which came back positive on Friday.
“Our collaborator has been on medical leave since Monday, March 23, without attendance at work throughout the week. His last day of work was on the night shift of Friday, March 20,” wrote Blumar in a statement to the publication.
It was reported that the worker had come into direct contact with at least nine people who are now self-isolating.
The company said that it has now “intensified sanitary measures” across sites.
The news comes at a tense time in the Latin American salmon producing nation. Farmers have now agreed to reduce its workforce by 50 per cent the number of workers who work in process plants in Chiloé, in the heart of the country’s salmon farming industry, reports Cooperativa.
This was due to widespread roadblocks and fires set up by Chilean salmon workers unions and residents, who took to the streets, angry at companies for what they saw as not taking enough safety measures to halt the coronavirus.
They argued that the main problem is the constant entry and exit of trucks from salmon farmers who they believe be spreading the coronavirus.
