Tyson Fresh Meats, the beef and pork subsidiary of Tyson Foods, plans to indefinitely suspend operations at its Waterloo, Iowa, pork plant this week.
The facility, the company’s largest pork plant, has been running at reduced levels of production due to worker absenteeism, and will stop production mid-week until further notice. The facility’s 2,800 team members will be invited to come to the plant later this week for COVID-19 testing.
“Protecting our team members is our top priority and the reason we’ve implemented numerous safety measures during this challenging and unprecedented time,” said Steve Stouffer, group president of Tyson Fresh Meats. “Despite our continued efforts to keep our people safe while fulfilling our critical role of feeding American families, the combination of worker absenteeism, COVID-19 cases and community concerns has resulted in our decision to stop production.
“The closure has significant ramifications beyond our company, since the plant is part of a larger supply chain that includes hundreds of independent farmers, truckers, distributors and customers, including grocers,” Stouffer said. “It means the loss of a vital market outlet for farmers and further contributes to the disruption of the nation’s pork supply.”
Affected Waterloo team members will continue to be compensated while the plant is closed. The timing of resumption of operations will depend on a variety of factors, including the outcome of team member testing for COVID-19.
Tyson Foods has been focused on COVID-19 since January when it formed a company coronavirus task force. It has since implemented numerous measures to protect workers. It was one of the first food companies to start taking worker temperatures. The company started efforts to secure a supply of protective face coverings before the CDC recommended them and now requires their use in all facilities. In an effort to promote social distancing, plants like Waterloo have installed workstation dividers and are providing more breakroom space.
Tyson Foods’ other meat and poultry plants currently continue to operate, but some are running at reduced levels of production either due to the planned implementation of additional worker safety precautions or worker absenteeism.
COVID-19 cases at plant in Emporia, Kansas
Health officials in Lyon County, Kansas, have identified Tyson's prepared foods plant in Emporia as a cluster area for COVID-19.
According to a report from the Emporia Gazette, there are 48 confirmed cases of the coronavirus that are associated with Tyson Foods employees.
Company spokeswoman Liz Croston said Tyson Foods has relaxed its attendance policy to encourage workers to stay home while sick. The company has also implemented other precautionary measures, such as checking worker temperatures, mandating that employees wear face coverings, and installing workplace dividers and more breakroom space.
Also in Emporia, the Simmons Pet Food plant has been identified as a cluster, according to a KVOE report.
View our continuing coverage of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.
