Workers at Hanford meat packing plant infected with coronavirus
A Hanford-based meat packing plant has confirmed “several” employees have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) and are being quarantined, a company official said Sunday.
Central Valley Meat Company Vice President Mike Casey said in a statement that the workers were identified through the company’s daily pre-screening process.
“Any employee that tests positive will be quarantined and followed by the respective County Health Department and will remain out of the workforce until cleared by medical professionals,” Casey said in the statement.
Casey, who heads the company’s risk management and human resources, did not have a total number of workers who have tested positive, saying they are waiting for more test results. He does not expect to have exact figures until Monday, when work resumes. The plant runs five days a week, processing more than 1,500 cattle a day.
A relative of one of the infected workers said she was disappointed the company has continued to operate. Central Valley Meat Company employs about 900 workers at two plants in Hanford and Vernon.
“They need to take care of their employees and not let them work, if it is not safe,” said Krystal Hernandez, whose father works at the plant. “My father said there were lots of people who were coughing, sneezing, or sweating. And now he is sick and so is his wife.”
Hernandez said her father, who did not want to be identified, became ill and stayed home last Wednesday. He also tested positive for coronavirus.
“This is a dangerous situation and no more people need to die from this,” she said.
Central Valley Meat Company is not the only meat processor hit by coronavirus. Three of the nation’s largest processors, Tyson, JBS and Smithfield, have temporarily closed 15 plants because of sick workers. And at least 3,300 workers at the three plants have become infected and at least 17 have died, according to the Washington Post.
Casey said Central Valley Meat Co. is doing everything it can to protect its workers.
“The company has been following CDC guidelines and has initiated multiple other processes and procedures to provide the greatest safety measures possible for our employees,” Casey said.
Last year, the Central Valley Meat Holding Company became the seventh-largest beef packer and processing company in the U.S. after acquiring the Harris Ranch Beef Holding Company for an undisclosed sum.
Both companies have continued to operate independently.
This story was originally published April 26, 2020 at 2:19 PM.
