Deep in my heart, I was afraid. Because I dont really want to die. I really want to come back home safe and sound.

Duds Miranda works on the killing floor of JBS Foods meat-packing plant, a job hes held since coming to Canada from the Philippines last fall. More than 600 workers at the facility in Brooks, Alta. have tested positive for COVID-19 , making it the second largest outbreak at an Alberta meat plant, following one at Cargill .

Miranda was among those cases last month. He spent weeks self-isolating in his room, protecting his roommates from the virus. They are all fellow Filipino temporary foreign workers, new enough to Canada that their first winter here began with bragging about snowfall to those abroad.

Miranda has since recovered and is returning to work soon, optimistic about increased safety measures at his workplace. But the fear remains over re-infection and how severe that might be.

Im always thinking about my family back home. Im always thinking, I have to survive, he told HuffPost Canada.