Health Authorities have linked 31 cases to the outbreak over the past two-and-a-half weeks.

The same authorities have now given Hazeldene's approval to reopen the processing plant in a limited capacity.

However, health authorities will not let a third of workers temporarily stood down back to work yet.

The Department of Health and Human Services had not yet cleared them because of a lack of contact and other information.

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Hazeldenes chief executive Mark Heintz said others would not be able to return because of statewide changes to meat processing regulations aimed at reducing the risk of COVID-19's spread.

"Unfortunately, it is not a matter of simply returning to the previous operational status," he said.

"Some shifts need to be changed to accommodate new government regulations and restrictions on operations.

"Employees who did not want to or could not change shifts will be placed on JobKeeper until we can provide an alternative arrangement more suitable to them.

"No employees have been or will be forced to make changes to previous shift arrangements."

About 250 workers were temporarily stood down following the outbreak.

Hazeldene's managers yesterday told 110 production and warehousing employees they would be stood down but would still be eligible for JobKeeper as long as the company was.

Those payments should continue to at least the end of September, Hazeldene's believes.

Mr Heintz said all staff would be given the opportunity to top up their JobKeeper payments with their leave entitlements.

"These employees will also be given the first right of refusal to any new positions that become available across our broader operations," he said.

"Standing down our team members is a last resort for our company - we pride ourselves on providing secure employment for our employees so this is a major blow.

"We are determined to keep as many team members in employment as possible while meeting all the new regulations."

The company is seeing "some growth" in its farming operations, Mr Heintz said. Some workers will be offered roles there.

"This way, we can meet our supply chain obligations, ensure customers have access to chicken products and protect the health and safety of our employees and community."

Hazeldene's shut down part of the Lockwood site after a contractor from Melbourne tested positive on 1 August.

The company revoked Melbourne-based contractors' access to the site immediately.

Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services endorsed preparations Hazeldene's had made before the outbreak, describing them as "considerable steps".

The department also said Hazeldene's had acted quickly once the first COVID-19 case was reported.

The company has now deep cleaned the affected processing plant area and reconfigured machinery so that it is spread over a much larger area, so workers can social distance more effectively.

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