Tyson Linked To Over 4,500 Cases Of COVID-19, Nearly 200 USDA Workers Also Test Positive

More than 4,500 cases of COVID-19 and 18 deaths have been reportedly linked to Tyson Foods (TSN) meat processing plants in 15 states. In addition, nearly 200 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) workers were reported to test positive for the coronavirus.

Tyson has made efforts to increase its safety measures at its plants by taking workers’ temperatures, requiring face masks, increasing its cleaning procedures, and adding workstation dividers. The company has also eased its attendance policy and increased its short-term disability pay to 90% until the end of June.

The news of the COVID-19 cases at Tyson Foods (via Business Insider) comes as the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting indicated that there were at 12,500 positive cases of COVID-19 and 51 deaths in the meatpacking industry across the U.S. as of Sunday.

Another 197 field employees in the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) have tested positive for COVID-19, and another 120 FSIS workers are under quarantine from exposure to the coronavirus as of May 5, a USDA spokesperson told Food Dive.

“FSIS has taken the unprecedented step of protecting its employees by allowing those inspectors in high-risk health categories to self-certify with their supervisor and excusing them from inspection duties until the risk from COVID-19 decreases or is mitigated,” the spokesperson told the news outlet.

“Additionally, FSIS now has enough masks and face coverings on hand to keep our inspection personnel supplied for the next few months. Despite these numbers our dedicated personnel are still meeting all of their inspection responsibilities so that consumers can continue to enjoy a safe supply of meat and poultry products,” they added.

Three food inspectors have died from COVID-19 in Illinois, Mississippi, and New York, Meat and Poultry reported.

More than 20 meat processing plants operated by Tyson, JBS, Smithfield Foods, and Cargill have closed temporarily or indefinitely as a result of local enforcement or their own workforce, Food Dive said.

Shares of Tyson Foods stock were up 0.61% as of market close on Monday.