As many as 20 cases of COVID-19 have been linked to a Dole Fresh Vegetables packaging plant in Ohio.

The Clark County facility had 10 employees test positive for the coronavirus and another two probable cases along with another eight cases connected to workers at the plant, the Clark County Combined Health District said.

The first case at the plant was reportedly detected on April 22, despite the efforts that Dole has taken to protect its workers.

In a statement, Dole told WDTN, an NBC affiliate out of Dayton, Ohio, “In addition to implementing all public health recommended precautions—social distancing, extensive hand washing, wearing of face masks at all times in our facilities, mandated self-quarantining of employees and contractors exposed to COVID-positive individuals, and increased frequency of deep cleaning and sanitation at the facility, especially in high touch areas—Dole has additionally welcomed CCCHD to come into and inspect the Springfield Salad Facility.

“Following the inspection, during which CCCHD noted the many protective procedures implemented by Dole, the facility implemented additional protocols based on their suggestions to further increase the safety of our employees and contractors. These include greater distancing and separation of workers in our facility, table dividers installed in our cafeteria and similar dividers in our packing room for added protection.

“Despite these protocols, 10 Dole salad plant employees and contractors (excluding non-confirmed cases and contacts with individuals other than Dole plant workers) have tested positive for COVID-19. Contract tracing of positive individuals did not appear to reveal any clustering nor evidence of transmission of the virus within our plant. Nor are we aware that any of the individuals identified through contact tracing have tested positive for the virus. We cannot state with certainty how the transmission occurred, but these results lead us to believe that the plant is not the source of transmission.”

Dole is currently working with the Clark County Combined Health District to monitor and manage the outbreak, the news outlet said.

Ohio has 27,106 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 1,556 deaths reported, according to the state’s Department of Health.

Dole pre packaged salads listeria
Dole Food says the U.S. Justice Department is looking into a listeria outbreak linked to the company’s packaged salads. Above, Dole and other brands of packaged salads sit on the shelf at a Bell Market in San Francisco June 19, 2003. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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