Olymel's Red Deer Pork Processing facility started its gradual reopening on Thursday after being temporarily closed for the last 14 days.

The company has been working with Alberta Health Services and Occupational Health and Safety during the process.

Slaughter operations resumed on Thursday with cutting room operations set to return on Friday

Since the temporary closure, Olymel had been managing the flow of pigs from its own farms in order to facilitate a return to normal when operations resumed.

The Olymel plant was closed in mid-February following a COVID-19 outbreak that has been linked to at least 500 cases since November, and now a fourth death is also related to that outbreak.

The Olymel plant at Red Deer is one of the largest hog slaughter plants in Western Canada.