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question everything

(47,271 posts)
Fri Apr 17, 2020, 09:27 PM Apr 2020

19 cases of COVID-19 confirmed at pork plant in Worthington (MN)

Source: StarTribune

Nineteen cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at the JBS pork plant in Worthington, the union representing workers there said Friday, dealing another blow to hog farmers and the meat supply chain and highlighting a widespread correlation between meatpacking plants and coronavirus hot spots.

The JBS plant — which employs about 2,000 workers and produces more than 4% of the nation's pork supply — had been a success story compared with other meatpacking plants, with zero confirmed cases through early this week.

But the close quarters and large gatherings required at meat factories appear to have repeatedly foiled efforts at sanitization and social distancing. Officials with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 663, the union that represents 1,850 workers at the plant, demanded the company scale back production to allow employees to work farther apart.

(snip)

Minnesota officials said Friday there were 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Worthington among the 2,071 statewide, and Gov. Tim Walz said some of the JBS employees have relatives who work at the Smithfield pork plant in Sioux Falls, which is closed indefinitely. More than 700 workers at the Sioux Falls Smithfield plant have tested positive for COVID-19.


Read more: https://www.startribune.com/first-covid-19-case-confirmed-at-pork-plant-in-worthington-minn/569731152



But.. but.. many protested to open Minnesota..
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19 cases of COVID-19 confirmed at pork plant in Worthington (MN) (Original Post) question everything Apr 2020 OP
Are they focusing on meat processing operations because of the food supply, or because bucolic_frolic Apr 2020 #1
Republicans love pork IronLionZion Apr 2020 #9
The meat processing plants in WI use a lot of immigrant labor. sybylla Apr 2020 #14
Many more are infected but showing no symptoms at all! at140 Apr 2020 #2
meat warehouses all over the USA . . Iliyah Apr 2020 #3
Thanks for the info. Wellstone ruled Apr 2020 #4
My mom works at the Jenni-O turkey plant in Melrose, MN NickB79 Apr 2020 #5
My job in dairy production has just instituted new safety measures NickB79 Apr 2020 #6
Smithfield Co. "To be or not to be?" spike jones Apr 2020 #7
They'll reopen after 2 weeks Warpy Apr 2020 #11
So the answer is, "to be." n/t spike jones Apr 2020 #13
Wall Street: "who cares: Dow up 14.1%, S&P 500 up 13.7% in the past month" progree Apr 2020 #8
It won't be limited to pork plants, you know Warpy Apr 2020 #10
"This is about the time we start cooking everything we eat." EarthFirst Apr 2020 #12
Maybe. Warpy Apr 2020 #15

bucolic_frolic

(42,678 posts)
1. Are they focusing on meat processing operations because of the food supply, or because
Fri Apr 17, 2020, 09:32 PM
Apr 2020

they are having a higher incidence than other occupations? Police and of course medical personnel have been hard hit. Is it the same for retail workers? Pickers? Or just meat plants

IronLionZion

(45,261 posts)
9. Republicans love pork
Fri Apr 17, 2020, 11:39 PM
Apr 2020

and other meat.

Meat processing is high risk due to close quarters and difficulty in sanitation. This virus supposedly started with wildlife used for meat in a wet market in China.

First responders and hospital workers are high risk and hard hit as well, but are more likely to receive the right protective equipment than meat workers.

sybylla

(8,464 posts)
14. The meat processing plants in WI use a lot of immigrant labor.
Sat Apr 18, 2020, 03:14 PM
Apr 2020

These workers are non-union and probably don't have good healthcare, benefits like PTO, or anything else. They are virtual slaves who are in precarious positions in our society and don't feel they can access social services, medical services, etc. This article mentions a union, so hopefully, this one is different. Since they have workers who have relatives at the SD plant, and the only people I saw interviewed regarding the SD plant were immigrant laborers and their families, I am doubtful.

Iliyah

(25,111 posts)
3. meat warehouses all over the USA . .
Fri Apr 17, 2020, 09:35 PM
Apr 2020

are being affected. Milk and veggies have felt the infection from at least months ago. t-rump and republican party knew months ago.

 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
4. Thanks for the info.
Fri Apr 17, 2020, 10:11 PM
Apr 2020

Know that shit hole very well. Nice to see Walz has a clue as to what the real story is. Can not say that for Reynolds or Moan.

NickB79

(19,114 posts)
5. My mom works at the Jenni-O turkey plant in Melrose, MN
Fri Apr 17, 2020, 10:17 PM
Apr 2020

600 co-workers. She's not in bad health, but she's 61 and has been smoking a pack a day since she was 18.

I'm really worried that it's just a matter of time

NickB79

(19,114 posts)
6. My job in dairy production has just instituted new safety measures
Fri Apr 17, 2020, 10:21 PM
Apr 2020

Temp checks before being allowed in the building. Management seems really worried.

spike jones

(1,656 posts)
7. Smithfield Co. "To be or not to be?"
Fri Apr 17, 2020, 10:29 PM
Apr 2020

There goes the sausage, ham, and hamlets. I love those little hamlets. They make them from little piglets and are the veal of the pork industry. You have your Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and you have your Smithfield’s hamlets.

progree

(10,864 posts)
8. Wall Street: "who cares: Dow up 14.1%, S&P 500 up 13.7% in the past month"
Fri Apr 17, 2020, 10:36 PM
Apr 2020

Closing values of DOW and S&P 500
Date ....... DOW ........ S&P 500
March 17   21,237.38   2,529.19
April 17    24,242.49   2,874.56
% increase: +14.1%   +13.7%

Dow: https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/%5EDJI/history?p=%5EDJI
S&P 500: https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/%5EGSPC/history?p=%5EGSPC

Warpy

(110,913 posts)
10. It won't be limited to pork plants, you know
Sat Apr 18, 2020, 02:28 AM
Apr 2020

Chicken, beef and fish processing will all be affected.

Fruits and veg will likely be picked by people who have been exposed but are well enough to work.

This is about the time we start cooking everything we eat.

EarthFirst

(2,877 posts)
12. "This is about the time we start cooking everything we eat."
Sat Apr 18, 2020, 04:08 AM
Apr 2020

Shit. In two/three weeks you’ll be able to go out to a restaurant and have someone cook for you!

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