More than 5,000 U.S. meat, food-processing workers exposed to coronavirus: union
Source: Reuters
BUSINESS NEWS APRIL 23, 2020 / 3:11 PM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO
More than 5,000 U.S. meat, food-processing workers exposed to coronavirus: union
Tom Polansek
3 MIN READ
CHICAGO (Reuters) - More than 5,000 U.S. meat and food-processing workers have been infected with or exposed to the new coronavirus, and 13 have died, the countrys largest meatpacking union said on Thursday.
The statistics reflect how the contagious respiratory illness has spread widely through slaughterhouses where large groups of employees often work shoulder to shoulder in difficult conditions.
Major meat processors like JBS USA [JBS.UL] and Tyson Foods Inc have indefinitely shuttered beef and pork plants due to outbreaks among workers, limiting U.S. production as demand has increased at grocery stores.
Companies said they are checking workers temperatures, working with local health officials and taking other steps to prevent the spread of the virus.
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union is pushing government officials to provide more protective equipment like masks for plant employees, after saying workers did not have enough.
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https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-meatpackers/more-than-5000-u-s-meat-food-processing-workers-exposed-to-coronavirus-union-idUSKCN2253D0