More than 9% of meat and poultry plant workers in 14 states reporting data on the novel coronavirus tested positive for COVID-19, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The report is based on data provided by health departments in 23 states for all meat and poultry plants affected by COVID-19. However, thorough data on the number of workers at facilities where there were confirmed cases was only available from 14 states: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin.
The CDC study tracked cases through May 2020. In the states where data was reported, there were 112,616 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in meat and poultry plants by the conclusion of May, which amounted to 9.1% of the workers at those plants.
When combined with a previous assessment from CDC through April 27, meat and poultry plant worker cases of COVID-19 totaled 17,358, including 91 deaths.
Breakdown by state
Of all the states to report COVID-19 cases, South Dakota had the highest percentage of confirmed cases. Of the 6,500 workers at plants where beef, pork and poultry are processed in the state, 1,595 (or 24.5%) tested positive for COVID-19.
Also in the double digits on a percentage basis was Nebraska, where 3,438 out of 26,134 workers at affected beef, pork and poultry plants (or 13.2%) tested positive.
In Maine, 50 out of 411 poultry plant workers (12.2%) tested positive, while in Washington, 10.5% of the 4,452 workers in beef and poultry plants tested positive. Maryland reported that 10.2% of 2,036 poultry plant workers tested positive.
Of the states to provide thorough information, Georgia had the smallest percentage of confirmed cases of COVID-19. The state reported 16,500 workers in affected poultry plants, with 509 or 3.1% testing positive.
Not all of the 14 states to report meat plant illnesses included poultry plants. There were no reported cases in poultry plants in Arizona or Idaho.
States providing information for the survey but lacking information on total number of workers at affected plants were Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming.
Nebraska reported the most COVID-19-related deaths with 14, followed by Illinois and Virginia, each with 10.
Other demographics
Twenty-one states provided information on demographic characteristics of confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Of the patients where genders were reported, 60% were males. Among those where ages were reported, 46% were ages 40-59.
Among the confirmed cases where ethnicity was reported, 56% were Hispanic, 19% were African-American, 13% were Caucasian and 12% were Asian.
Meat Institute responds
Commenting on the report, Sarah Little, vice president of communications for the North American Meat Institute, issued the following statement: “The safety of all workers, regardless of race or ethnicity, continues to remain the No. 1 priority of the meat and poultry industry. Meat and poultry facilities implemented the CDC’s guidelines to control the potential spread of COVID-19. The men and women who work in our members’ facilities are essential to the food value chain and the rural economy.”
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