Midfield was closed on Wednesday and 1000 staff off work as the company complied with state government restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus.

But a leaked document from the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions says regional abattoirs will be treated differently to metropolitan meatworks.

Instead of having to reduce their workforce by 33 per cent each day, regional meatworks will be allowed to reduce the workforce capacity across a five-day week.

That means Midfield is likely to close one day a week for six weeks and not altogether as previously feared under the original restrictions. Midfield Group general manager Dean McKenna said operations would be assessed on a day-to-day basis.

"We are complying with rules and regulations put in place by the state government," he said.

"There is no production today (Wednesday) at the abattoirs." But Mr McKenna said the meatworks would operate on Thursday.

He said under the new regulations, Midfield could operate "as long as our weekly employee numbers are reduced by 33 per cent".

"What that means is we can man our chains but we cannot work everyday of the week," Mr McKenna said.

The leaked document shows meatworks can have 80 per cent of their workforce on site four days a week and 15 per cent on the fifth day, to equal 67 per cent across the week. Mr McKenna said there was "still a lot going on to reason with the regulators".

"We are still working through the processes," he said. "We are not whinging. We understand there are many businesses that are way worse off than us."