Tyson reports 212 COVID-19 cases at its Madison plant

The company Tuesday night jointly disclosed the numbers with the Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department. Of its 1,467 workers, 212 tested positive. Tyson closed the plant temporarily last week so that all workers could be tested and also so the plant could be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.

The disclosure comes less than a week after Gov. Pete Ricketts had discouraged health departments and local officials from reporting cases linked to specific businesses because of what he said were questions about their accuracy.

Interestingly, of the 212 positives, Tyson said 74, or more than one-third, showed no symptoms of the disease.

“Our top priority is the health and safety of our team members, and we appreciate the collaboration and support of Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department as we provided testing and took steps to complement our existing prevention efforts,” said Tom Brower, senior vice president of health and safety for Tyson Foods.

“As we learn more about this virus, we continue to do everything we can to protect our team members and ensure they feel safe and secure when they come to work."

Tyson said employees who tested positive receive paid leave and may return to work only when they have met the criteria established by both the Centers for Disease Control and Tyson. The company said most of the people with positive tests have already recovered from their illness.

The total number of cases in Madison County, where the plant is located, is 265, and there are 298 COVID-19 cases so far in the four-county health department region.

“Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department would like to applaud Tyson on the early identification and containment of positive COVID-19 cases at its Madison plant,” health department Director Gina Uhing said in a news release.

Tyson said it intends to disclose positive test results at other plants it owns to "health and government officials, team members and stakeholders."

Tyson owns a beef plant in Dakota City, where unconfirmed reports have put the number of cases at close to 700.

Other meatpacking plants with at least 200 confirmed cases include Smithfield Foods pork plant in Crete and the JBS beef plant in Grand Island.