Tyson Foods will shut U.S. pork plant as more workers catch coronavirus
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Topics: TYSON FOODS U.S.
Meat processors like Tyson Foods, WH Group’s Smithfield Foods and JBS USA temporarily closed about 20 slaughterhouses last month as workers fell ill with the new coronavirus, leading to shortages of certain products in grocery stores. Production remains lower than normal because of increased absenteeism and social distancing among employees.
An Iowa state official said 555 employees at Tyson’s Storm Lake plant tested positive for the virus, about 22% of the workforce.
Tyson will stop slaughtering hogs at the facility and finish processing the animals over the next two days, according to a statement.
It will resume operations next week following “additional deep cleaning and sanitizing of the entire facility,” the statement said. ■