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w/ @nytimes @BrownInstitute @mcorkery5 @yaffebellany we looked at meatpacking plants in 5 states hit esp. hard by Covid-19: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska.
There is 1 overwhelming pattern: Info on outbreaks at these plants is a black box. 1/10 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/25/business/coronavirus-meatpacking-plants-cases.html
There is 1 overwhelming pattern: Info on outbreaks at these plants is a black box. 1/10 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/25/business/coronavirus-meatpacking-plants-cases.html
This is by design.
@TysonFoods @SmithfieldFoods @Cargill didn't want to share data on the # of infected workers. @JBS_oficial said it didn't want to "foment fear or panic among our employees or the community." And local health dept's don't want to ruin these relationships. 2/10
@TysonFoods @SmithfieldFoods @Cargill didn't want to share data on the # of infected workers. @JBS_oficial said it didn't want to "foment fear or panic among our employees or the community." And local health dept's don't want to ruin these relationships. 2/10
Why are relationships w/ meatpackers so important to local health dept's?
Readouts of meetings in NE Colorado on April 9 help explain why. It's "critical food supply." Shutting down @Cargill could lead to a domino effect. "We do not want people thinking it is in the food." 3/10
Readouts of meetings in NE Colorado on April 9 help explain why. It's "critical food supply." Shutting down @Cargill could lead to a domino effect. "We do not want people thinking it is in the food." 3/10
As the @KCStar & @AP have reported, meatpackers have lobbied hard to get carve-outs to quarantine rules. But that's led to info gaps.
In Kansas City, Kan., health officials got fed up w/ an outbreak at National Beef and little help from the state. So they planned a testing raid.
In Kansas City, Kan., health officials got fed up w/ an outbreak at National Beef and little help from the state. So they planned a testing raid.
It's easy to forget that there are people behind these numbers. There were 328 positive Covid-19 cases at @JBS_oficial in Nebraska, as of May 5.
The median age of those infected: 46. It included men and women as young as 18 and old as 71. 5/10
The median age of those infected: 46. It included men and women as young as 18 and old as 71. 5/10
As @MichaelGrabell & @propublica, @JBS_oficial stayed open despite a push by the Central Nebraska Health District to close.
That request was blocked by Nebraska's governor, Pete Ricketts. Since then, testing numbers have come out in drips and drabs. 6/10 https://www.propublica.org/article/what-happened-when-health-officials-wanted-to-close-a-meatpacking-plant-but-the-governor-said-no
That request was blocked by Nebraska's governor, Pete Ricketts. Since then, testing numbers have come out in drips and drabs. 6/10 https://www.propublica.org/article/what-happened-when-health-officials-wanted-to-close-a-meatpacking-plant-but-the-governor-said-no
@JBS_oficial kept a running tally of those infected at its 3,700-worker Grand Island plant. The notes are innocuous but notable:
A 61 y/o was sent home “due to age.” A 26 y/o man is identified as a "dad" of another employee. A 28 y/o is identified as a “USDA inspector.” 7/10
A 61 y/o was sent home “due to age.” A 26 y/o man is identified as a "dad" of another employee. A 28 y/o is identified as a “USDA inspector.” 7/10
In St. Joseph, Missouri, employees at @Triumph_Foods were tested from April 27 to May 1, leading to a citywide spike in Covid-19 cases.
https://www.kq2.com/content/news/Officials-say-more-than-400-Triumph-Foods-employees-are-asymptomatic-one-doctor-says--570241502.html
Another increase is expected. But an exchange between a Triumph employee and the health department stuck out. 8/10
https://www.kq2.com/content/news/Officials-say-more-than-400-Triumph-Foods-employees-are-asymptomatic-one-doctor-says--570241502.html
Another increase is expected. But an exchange between a Triumph employee and the health department stuck out. 8/10
In this series of emails. a @Triumph_Foods employee asked St. Joseph health officials about social distancing + testing.
The health official responded that she wanted to test everyone in the plant but the city was limited in what it could do. 9/10
The health official responded that she wanted to test everyone in the plant but the city was limited in what it could do. 9/10
There's a lot more "there" there, with respect to meatpacking plants and the coronavirus.
w/ funding from @BrownInstitute @FundFIJ @NatGeo & others, we plan to make all of these records from 18 states and counting public very soon. 10/10
w/ funding from @BrownInstitute @FundFIJ @NatGeo & others, we plan to make all of these records from 18 states and counting public very soon. 10/10
