The recent string of COVID-19 cases in the Grand Bank area has resulted in the temporary closure of the local Clearwater Seafoods plant.

There are now five connected cases of the virus in the town, the latest of which is another resident of Blue Crest Cottages.

Mayor Rex Matthews says the plant closed Wednesday, the day the first cases were reported.

Matthews anticipates they will remain closed until contact tracing and testing are complete. He commends the plant for that, noting they can’t afford to take any chances.

He affirms there are no known cases of the virus at the plant, and that the closure was moreso done out of an abundance of caution.

The mayor says the decision is “understandable and reasonable” because they don’t want to see anything happen at the plant. He says they are prepared to wait out the situation.