Some 370 workers, or 13% of the total of 2,800 workers at the Triumph Foods pork processing plant in St. Joseph, Missouri, have tested positive for coronavirus and are asymptomatic.
Employees who tested positive have been sent home and are self-isolating, while receiving pay, and the plant continues to operate, according to CNN.
Health officials are tracking those employees' contacts to see if they turn up more infected individuals.
"We are grateful for the commitment of 2,800 tests from the state and a commercial laboratory partner," Marc Campbell, CEO of Triumph Foods, said. "We view these tests as a continuation of our ongoing efforts to adapt and remain nimble in dealing with this global health crisis."
Dr. Randall Williams, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, said, "Our mission remains to protect health and keep Missourians safe. We appreciate the willingness from employees of Triumph Foods to be tested and the collaboration with local healthcare providers to help prevent further spread of COVID-19 in this community.
As of Sunday, Missouri had totaled 8,386 cases and 352 deaths statewide, the Department of Health reported.
Temporary closures have hit the meat packing industry because of COVID-19, and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union said 20 meatpacking and food processing workers have died so far, CNN reports.
President Trump signed an executive order which allowed imposition of the Defense Production Act to force meat packing companies to keep their plants open, according to CNN.
The Centers for Disease Control reports that 4,900 meat and poultry processing workers have tested positive for COVID-19 in 115 plants in 23 states.
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