Pilgrim's Pride employee tests positive for COVID-19

Pilgrim's Pride employee tests positive for COVID-19

According to the cdc, at least 115 meat and poultry processing plants in the u-s have reported coronavirus cases.

Locally, health officials confirm an employee of a local chicken processing plant tests positive for covid-19.

Hamilton county health department officials confirm an employee at pilgrim's pride has tested positive for covid-19.

In a statement, they say "as with all positive cases, health department employees immediately begin contact tracing and appropriate isolation and quarantine measures with contacts of the case."

Contact tracing is when health department workers compile a list of people the infected person has been in contact with during a certain time, they call those people and ask them the quarantine.

Officials say "pilgrim's pride is fully cooperating with the health department."

Nats according to a recent cdc report, 19 states have reported covid-19 cases among u.s. workers, almost 5,000 cases and at least 20 deaths.

The factors that increase the risk for getting sick at a plant include workplace distancing, hygiene, shared living quarters and shared transportation.

Multiple facilities across the u-s have dealt with outbreaks during the pandemic and have had to shut down.

In april, the tyson foods poultry plant in shelbyville temporarily closed after several workers tested positive with the virus.

Meanwhile, grocery stores, like publix, continue to ask folks to limit the amount of meat and chicken customers buy.

As for pilgrim's pride, news 12 did reach out to the company, but have not heard back.