More than 5,000 U.S. meat, food-processing workers exposed to coronavirus: union

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

BUSINESS NEWS APRIL 23, 2020 / 3:11 PM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO

More than 5,000 U.S. meat, food-processing workers exposed to coronavirus: union

Tom Polansek
3 MIN READ

CHICAGO (Reuters) - More than 5,000 U.S. meat and food-processing workers have been infected with or exposed to the new coronavirus, and 13 have died, the country’s largest meatpacking union said on Thursday.

The statistics reflect how the contagious respiratory illness has spread widely through slaughterhouses where large groups of employees often work shoulder to shoulder in difficult conditions.

Major meat processors like JBS USA [JBS.UL] and Tyson Foods Inc have indefinitely shuttered beef and pork plants due to outbreaks among workers, limiting U.S. production as demand has increased at grocery stores.

Companies said they are checking workers’ temperatures, working with local health officials and taking other steps to prevent the spread of the virus.

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union is pushing government officials to provide more protective equipment like masks for plant employees, after saying workers did not have enough.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-meatpackers/more-than-5000-u-s-meat-food-processing-workers-exposed-to-coronavirus-union-idUSKCN2253D0

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Want to know when will they destroy

all that contaminated Meat ?

[openthepodbaydoors]

2. No need to destroy the meat: Cooking the meat kills the virus

Question:

Why were the food preparation workers permitted to work without wearing a mask to cover nose and mouth?

Main fault is that of the State Governor.

From now on, all food preparation workers across the nation should be mandated to wear a mask to cover nose and mouth - at least until they are effectively vaccinated.