Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. will temporarily halt production at its Pasco, Wash., beef facility while team members undergo testing, the company announced Thursday.
Health officials in Walla Walla, Benton, and Franklin counties will work with the company to test its more than 1,400 team members for COVID-19 as soon as possible, the protein giant said. While the plant is temporarily closed for testing, employees will continue to be compensated and asked to self-isolate at home until results return.
“The combination of worker absenteeism, COVID-19 case and community concerns has resulted in a collective decision to close and test all team members,” Steve Stouffer, group president of Tyson Fresh Meats, said in a statement.
Resuming operation will depend on the outcome of team member testing for COVID-19 and how long it takes to get results back, Stouffer said, adding that the company is working to educate workers on CDC guidance to prevent the spread of the virus.
“We’re working with local health officials to bring the plant back to full operation as soon as we believe it to be safe,” Stouffer said. “Unfortunately, the closure will mean reduced food supplies and presents problems to farmers who have no place to take their livestock. It’s a complicated situation across the supply chain.”
Tyson Foods indefinitely suspended operations at its Tyson Fresh Meats Waterloo, Iowa, pork plant this week. Tyson will also voluntarily close its pork facility in Logansport, Ind., while workers undergo testing.
The company’s 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, Tyson said.
To access Meatingplace’s ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, click here. To access our map of processing plants that have reported positive tests among employees, have closed and/or have reopened, click here.