Coronavirus Claims Lives of 2 Tyson Plant Workers

American food firm Tyson Foods confirmed this week that two workers from its meat plant in Columbus Junction, IA have died as a result of COVID-19 infections, the company told several local and national news organizations.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of two team members at our Columbus Junction plant,” Tyson spokesperson Liz Croston said in an email to the Des Moines Register. “Their families are in our thoughts and prayers.”

Tyson temporarily closed the Columbus Junction plant on April 6 after more than 24 workers at the site tested positive for the virus. 

“We continue working diligently to protect our team members at facilities across the country by taking worker temperatures, requiring protective face coverings, and conducting additional cleaning and sanitizing,” Croston said in coverage by CBS News affiliate KCCI. “We’re implementing social distancing measures, such as installing workstation dividers, spreading out workstations where possible, and providing more break room spaces.”

The company said in a report by KWQC on Tuesday that it is expanding the shutdown of the Columbus Junction plant by a week. Tyson plans to pay workers who are impacted by the closure and send shipments of livestock to other facilities. 

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