Tyson says it will close its Waterloo and Logansport pork processing plant indefinitely due to COVID-19

[Mike]

After days of community pressure, Tyson Foods said Wednesday it is suspending operations indefinitely at its Waterloo pork processing plant, one of the nation's largest.

The Arkansas company also said it will offer COVID-19 testing to all of its 2,800 employees at the plant while it's closed. Gov. Kim Reynolds said Wednesday the state would help the community test workers, beginning Friday.

Tyson’s decision to close its largest pork processing plant comes after an employee at the facility, and three others at the company's Columbus Junction and Dakota City, Nebraska, plants have died from COVID-19.

Meatpacking-related deaths also have been reported at other Midwest facilities, including the Smithfield Foods pork processing plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where two workers died from COVID-19 complications.

Tyson says it will close its Waterloo pork processing plant indefinitely due to COVID-19

Tyson had come under pressure from elected officials and the Black Hawk County Board of Health to close the plant.

www.desmoinesregister.com

 

[Mike]

LOGANSPORT, Ind. – Cass County Commissioners voted Wednesday to close the Tyson pork processing plant in Logansport due to the escalating number of COVID-19 cases among workers.

Tyson agreed to a 14-day voluntary closure for testing and contact tracing. The IndyStar reported that 146 employees had tested positive for COVID-19.

Production is expected to stop by Saturday. The plant employs more than 2,200.

Tyson closes Logansport pork processing plant in response to rising COVID-19 cases

LOGANSPORT, Ind. – Cass County Commissioners voted Wednesday to close the Tyson pork processing plant in Logansport due to the escalating number of COVID-19 cases among workers. Tyson agreed to a 1…

fox59.com

 

[mndriver]

So it begins

 

[Mike]

So it begins

Mentioned a week or two ago that Pork was about to become scarce and to plan for it. Our plan is to just do without it if it gets too high.

We can replace it with the 10# bags of chicken leg quarters that went for $1.58 per bag last week. Put a few of those in the freezer.

 

[Sinister]

What happens in these plants that this spreads like this? Are these people coughing into each others mouths or what?

 

[ironpony]

What happens in these plants that this spreads like this? Are these people coughing into each others mouths or what?

They're working shoulder to shoulder on the production line. There's no social distancing.

 

[Hammer166]

They're working shoulder to shoulder on the production line. There's no social distancing.

Their living conditions aren't any better. Hot-bunking isn't unusual, as there's often more tenants than beds. At least when they were working, at least one of the shifts would be out of the house. Now they'll all be in the house together, so watch for the numbers to really explode around these plants.

 

[ironpony]

I was wonderin that myself. Poultry is a big deal in Delmarva and losin the chicken plants would hurt

This is the problem with opening any business with the virus still on the rampage.

 

[Johndeere4020]

This is the problem with opening any business with the virus still on the rampage.

Not “any” business. The next problem is this thing isn’t going away

 

[4mer Trucker]

This is the problem with opening any business with the virus still on the rampage.

Are U still running or parked?

 

[Wore Out]

Better question is why only pork? Why not beef or chicken plants? Or any of the vegetable or dairy processing facilities? How long until they start faking outbreaks at those facilities too?

Beef plants have been hit really hard with this

 

[Rigjockey]

With all these meat plants closing up we are going to have to start eating vegetarians.

 

[Nomad1]

Two Tyson plants in TN have a coronavirus outbreak. I know one is a chicken plant. I believe both are. I know they closed one in Shelbyville TN. I am not sure about the Goodletsville plant.

 

[ironpony]

Are U still running or parked?

I'm skeered. Parked my truck, an' hidin'! Someone call my mommy!



Deliverin' in Ochelata OK tomorrow, and pickin' up in Carthage Sunday.