Coronavirus In Minnesota: 23 New COVID-19 Cases Reported In County With Pork Plant
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota officials on Saturday reported 143 new cases of the coronavirus, including 23 in the county where cases have been confirmed among workers at a meatpacking plant.
The JBS pork plant is located in the Nobles County city of Worthington. The union that represents most of the facility's 2,000 workers reported Friday that 19 employees had become infected with COVID-19.
It's not clear if all 23 positive tests in Nobles County are related to the plant outbreak.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said his administration has been in close contact with JBS management, local government and union officials. The state has sent a team to set up testing and ensure safe conditions, he said.
Local union president Matt Utecht urged JBS to slow assembly line speeds and guarantee at least 6 feet between workers. JBS spokesman Cameron Bruett said many safety enhancements are in place.
State health officials said Saturday that 10 more people have died from the virus, increasing the total number of deaths to 121. Nearly 240 people are hospitalized, with 111 in intensive care.
The total number of cases stands at 2,213.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.
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