Tyson Foods says 2 dead after virus outbreak at Iowa plant

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Tyson Foods says 2 dead after virus outbreak at Iowa plant


https://apnews.com/fa83d2dd514c8e8d02f8fb1fc0ba315a

By DAVID PITT and RYAN J. yesterday

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two employees have died following a coronavirus outbreak that has sickened scores of Tyson Foods workers at a large pork plant in southeastern Iowa, the company said Wednesday.

The deaths of the workers at Tyson plant in Columbus Junction are the first known to be linked to an outbreak at a meatpacking plant in Iowa.

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The plant has been idled since April 6, when Tyson announced that more than two dozen workers were infected. The company said Monday that it would continue the plant’s suspension this week after more workers tested positive.

Louisa County, a rural area of 11,000 residents, announced Wednesday that Tyson workers account for 148 of 166 coronavirus cases in the county. An Iowa Department of Public Health spokesperson had earlier put the number of Tyson workers infected at 166...........................................

Infections at food manufacturing plants have contributed to the racial and ethnic disparities among Iowa residents testing positive for COVID-19, said Department of Public Health deputy director Sarah Reisetter. The plants employ a large number of Latinos and immigrants.

Hispanics and Latinos account for 17.4% of Iowa’s confirmed cases compared with about 6.2% of the state population. Blacks are more than 9% of those infected compared with 4% of the population. ...............