Workers at two of Wayne Farms’ Alabama poultry complexes have tested positive for COVID-19.
According to an email from Wayne Farms spokesman Frank Singleton, one worker at Wayne Farms’ operations in Dothan tested positive, while “several” employees at the Enterprise operation have been confirmed to have the virus.
“The employees are self-quarantined and will not return to work until they are disease-free and fully recovered,” Singleton said.
Wayne Farms, according to Singleton, is working directly with public health agencies and its plant occupational health teams to monitor the situation. This includes employee temperature monitoring via infrared thermometers at entrances, and watching employees for signs of flu-like symptoms or other indicators.
“We’re keeping our employees informed, and emphasizing use of PPE, hand washing, social distancing and other precautions as directed by public health (agencies) and the [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention],” Singleton said.
Wayne Farms has been following a protocol related to the COVID-19 pandemic that it put in place on February 24.
“As this is an evolving situation, we anticipate Wayne Farms, like other businesses, will continue to deal with this,” he said.
Other poultry companies in the United States to report that employees have tested positive for COVID-19 include Sanderson Farms, Mountaire Farms, Foster Farms, Perdue Farms, House of Raeford Farms and Empire Kosher Poultry. Because of the situation, Empire Kosher Poultry suspended operations at its Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, plant until April 14.
Wayne Farms recently completed a $105 million expansion of its poultry processing facility in Enterprise.
Wayne Farms, according to the WATTAgNet Top Poultry Companies Database, has nine slaughter plants, three further processing plants, 10 hatcheries, and seven feed mills. It is headquartered in Oakwood, Georgia, and is the seventh largest broiler company in the United States. The company processed 49.4 million pounds of ready-to-cook chicken on a weekly basis in 2019.
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