COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (KWQC) -The Tyson pork plant in Columbus Junction is suspending operations after more than two dozen employees tested positive for COVID-19. Officials say this is in effort to "minimize the impact on our overall production." The livestock supply that was originally scheduled for delivery to that plant in Columbus Junction is now being diverted elsewhere.
"Our meat and poultry plants are experiencing varying levels of production impact, due to the planned implementation of additional worker safety precautions and worker absenteeism," officials sad in a statement on their website. "For example, out of an abundance of caution, we have suspended operations at our Columbus Junction, Iowa, pork plant this week due to more than two dozen cases of COVID-19 involving team members at the facility. In an effort to minimize the impact on our overall production, we’re diverting the livestock supply originally scheduled for delivery to Columbus Junction to some of our other pork plants in the region.