Maple Leaf Foods in Brandon has temporarily suspended pork exports to China on a voluntary basis.

Chinese protocol requires any plant reporting a COVID-19 positive case to suspend exports to China temporarily.

Maple Leaf also has been impacted by short-term increases in absenteeism. In a statement, the company says it believes this is a short-term situation and not a material financial event, given the diversity of the company's markets.

"We are confident in our Maple Leaf Safety Promise – providing consumers with safe, great tasting food made in a safe working environment – but, we respect China's new import protocols for Canadian products and are working cooperatively with Canadian and Chinese authorities to resume exports quickly," said Michael McCain, Maple Leaf Foods President and CEO.

Meanwhile, to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 within the Brandon-area, Maple Leaf is making 500,000 free masks available to community members.