Iowa Pork Plant Suspended After Workers Test COVID-19 Positive

According to WHOTV, Tyson Foods suspended operations at a pork processing plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa after more than two dozen workers have tested positive for coronavirus. Spokesman for the southeast Iowa plant, Gary Mickelson, told news outlets that the suspension will last at least until the end of the week, and that the 1,400 plant workers will continue to be paid during that time.

The report states that the plant "processes and packages fresh pork that is sent to retail and food service customers." Spokesman Mickelson told WHOTV that livestock shipments scheduled to be delivered to the plant have been diverted to other plants in Waterloo and Perry.

Tyson has also taken steps to protect plant workers. The food distributor has began taking temperatures of workers before their shifts and increasing sanitation of areas such as breakrooms and locker rooms.

Many businesses today have had to adjust their operations to make the workplace safe for not only workers and customers. Target, Walmart, and Costco are just some of the many that have made adjustments such as limiting the number of customers in the stores, and making aisles one way. Everyone must do their part to prevent or slow the spread of the virus.