Coronavirus at meat packing plants worse than first thought, USA TODAY investigation finds

[UpInArms]

Source: USA Today

A rash of coronavirus outbreaks at dozens of meat packing plants across the nation is far more extensive than previously thought, according to an exclusive review of cases by USA TODAY and the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting.

And it could get worse. More than 150 of America’s largest meat processing plants operate in counties where the rate of coronavirus infection is already among the nation’s highest, based on the media outlets’ analysis of slaughterhouse locations and county-level COVID-19 infection rates.

These facilities represent more than 1 in 3 of the nation’s biggest beef, pork and poultry processing plants. Rates of infection around these plants are higher than those of 75% of other U.S. counties, the analysis found.

And while experts say the industry has thus far maintained sufficient production despite infections in at least 2,200 workers at 48 plants, there are fears that the number of cases could continue to rise and that meat packing plants will become the next disaster zones.



Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/investigations/2020/04/22/meat-packing-plants-covid-may-force-choice-worker-health-food/2995232001/

[UpInArms]

1. Tyson Foods to indefinitely suspend operations at Waterloo pork plant as virus keeps workers away

Tyson Foods Inc. TSN, -3.05% said Wednesday it is suspending operations at its Waterloo, Iowa pork plant indefinitely this week, after it became impossible to keep it open with many workers absent due to the coronavirus pandemic. The company will ask all 2,800 workers to come to the plant for COVID-19 testing. "The closure has significant ramifications beyond our company, since the plant is part of a larger supply chain that includes hundreds of independent farmers, truckers, distributors and customers, including grocers," Chief Executive Steve Stouffer said in a statement. "It means the loss of a vital market outlet for farmers and further contributes to the disruption of the nation's pork supply." The company will pay workers while the plant is closed. The timing of a reopening depends on the outcome of testing, it said. The company's other meat and poultry plants remain open but are running at reduced levels of production. Shares were slightly lower premarket, but are down 32% in the year to date, while the S&P 500 SPX, 2.06% has fallen 15%.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/tyson-foods-to-indefinitely-suspend-operations-at-waterloo-pork-plant-as-virus-keeps-workers-away-2020-04-22?mod=home-page

[Mike 03]

2. Devastating article

A 50-year-old employee named John at Smithfield’s Sioux Fall plant told USA TODAY that there’s no way to stay six feet apart from coworkers on the production line, in the cafeteria or in the locker room. The employee asked to use only his first name for fear that speaking out would cost him his job.

As people around him at the plant became infected with COVID-19, John said, he started feeling sick and went to get his temperature checked, thinking he needed to leave. But he was stopped, he said.

“They told me I was OK and I needed to work,” said John, who has worked at the plant for a decade. “I said nope, and I came home.”

In early April, he learned he had tested positive for COVID-19.

“Those people don’t care about us,” John said. “If you die, they’ll just replace you tomorrow.”

Great investigative journalism. Thanks for posting.

[Mike 03]

3. Crazy-ass paragraph

But experts say there's little risk of a dwindling protein supply because, given the choice between worker safety and keeping meat on grocery shelves, the nation’s slaughterhouses will choose to produce food.

That only works if your employees don't get sick (or if you're constantly hiring just about anybody with a pulse who is willing to do this kind of work and who is willing to place his/her life at risk), which will be hard to avoid based on the facts included in this article.

[UpInArms]

4. The disconnect between fantasy and reality is huge

With corporations and humanity

[ToxMarz]

7. That's why they are under reporting the seriousness

To keep the new hires coming

[I_UndergroundPanther]

5. Before covid19

Meat processers were already disasters.

[Bayard]

6. At some point,

They will not be able to keep these places open. These folks will join the other millions of unemployed.

I wonder about the meat. Is it really safe? I have pork chops in the freezer, and I cook chicken for my dogs every day.

[DBoon]

8. This is the result of 40 years of republican deregulation

1. Break unions
2. Gut health and safety regulations
3. Gut consumer protections
4. Maximize profits
5. Kill your workforce

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

9. Wonderful

Cook the hell out of your meat or go vegan.