Pork Processing Plant Spikes Rural Iowa County's COVID-19 Numbers

LOUISA COUNTY, Iowa - An outbreak of COVID-19/coronavirus cases at a pork processing plant has spiked the numbers in a rural Iowa county.

Louisa County has more than 13 positive case per 1,000 residents according to OpenStreetMap, far higher than any other county in the state. By comparison, Linn County which has had the largest outbreak of COVID-19, has roughly one case per 1,000 residents.

The state announced Tuesday that 86 of 189 new cases in Iowa were related to the Tyson pork processing plant in Columbus Junction in Louisa County. That plant has had a total of 186 positive cases.

The Louisa County Sheriff's Office has announced that Community Health Centers of Southeastern Iowa is offering COVID-19 testing through the end of the week. The number of tests are limited and appointments will have to be made.

The Tyson processing plant has been closed since April 6th because of COVID-19, and the company says it'll remain closed for the time being.

Tyson also announced attendance-based bonuses totaling $60 million for 116,000 workers and truckers, offering onetime $500 bonuses to each employee.


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