By Canadian Press

Moment of silence planned at Cargill for worker who died of COVID-19

May 6, 2020 | 2:05 AM

HIGH RIVER, Alta. — A moment of silence is planned at the Cargill meat packing plant near High River, Alta., Wednesday to honour an employee who died of COVID-19.

Hiep Bui, who was 67, worked at the Cargill slaughterhouse for 23 years and was responsible for picking out beef bones from hamburger meat.

She became ill on her shift on a Friday, was hospitalized the next day and died on the Sunday.

She has been the only worker infected at the plant, which employs 2,000 employees, although 949 cases have been recorded.

The plant reopened Monday and Bui’s husband, Nga Nguyen, told reporters at her memorial that he hadn’t heard from Cargill.

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Cargill said it has now reached out to him and described Bui as a “long-time employee, trusted colleague and friend.”

“Our hearts are broken for the Nguyen family. While we deeply empathize with the waves of grief caused by COVID, we want people to receive support when they feel despair,” Cargill said in a statement.

“We have had plans in place to take a moment of silence on Wednesday morning as her colleagues return to work and have been flying our flag at half-mast this week to honour her memory.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2020

The Canadian Press