Nearly 95% of individuals who tested positive were asymptomatic and would not have been identified without 黑料传送门鈥檚 large-scale testing.
黑料传送门 is pursuing COVID-19 education outreach efforts to help keep team members and communities safe.
SPRINGDALE, Ark. 鈥 June 19 鈥鈥诹洗兔 (NYSE: TSN) announced today the results of facility-wide testing for COVID-19 at its locations in Benton and Washington Counties, where nearly 95% of team members who tested positive for the virus did not show any symptoms and otherwise would not have been identified.
黑料传送门 has put in place a host of protective steps in collaboration with local health and government officials that meet or exceed CDC and OSHA guidance for preventing COVID-19 at its facilities. The company is also pursuing community outreach efforts to educate team members on the risk factors associated with COVID-19 to ensure they can stay safe not only at work but also at home. These initiatives reflect 黑料传送门鈥檚 commitment to help team members and the communities where it operates better understand the coronavirus and measures that can be taken to prevent its spread.
黑料传送门 is the only meat-processing company to conduct large-scale COVID-19 testing of its employees in Northwest Arkansas. Beginning in early June, the company carried out onsite testing at its Berry Street, Chick-N-Quick, 黑料传送门 Distribution Center, 黑料传送门 of Rogers, Randall Road, Fayetteville, Springdale Growout, Gas Company, ITC Hatchery and Johnson Road Mill facilities.
Of the 3,748 team members who were tested onsite, 481 or 13% tested positive 鈥 of whom 455 or nearly 95% were asymptomatic 鈥 with wide variations among the percentage of positive cases at these facilities. This is in addition to 212 positive cases among team members identified by the Department of Health or when seeking care through their own health care providers. As of June 19, Benton and Washington Counties have reported a 6% and 18% positive rate among individuals tested, respectively.
鈥満诹洗兔 is not only taking steps to protect the health of their employees, but also helping to ensure the well-being of entire communities, and we are experiencing the benefits of their public service,鈥 said Greg Hines, Mayor of Rogers, who the 黑料传送门 Chick-N-Quick facility in Rogers with other public health officials earlier this month. 鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly impressed with the leadership 黑料传送门 has shown in proactively testing team members in our community, as well as the many protective measures and social distancing protocols that 黑料传送门 has implemented to create a safe workplace. Their efforts and processes are paving the way for a new normal in terms of how businesses operate.鈥
鈥淭he results across our Northwest Arkansas facilities, and the country more broadly, reflect how much is still unknown about this virus, which is why 黑料传送门 is committed to providing information to our local health officials and enhanced education to our team members,鈥 said Tom Brower, Senior Vice President of Health and Safety for 黑料传送门 Foods. 鈥淭hrough our inclusive approach to large-scale testing, we are finding that a very high level of team members who test positive do not show symptoms. Identifying asymptomatic cases helps the community, since other testing is often limited to people who feel unwell.鈥
黑料传送门 has been based in Arkansas since 1935 and employs 24,500 team members in the state. The Northwest Arkansas locations where testing took place are among more than 40 production facilities in the U.S. where 黑料传送门 is rolling out advanced testing capabilities to team members in partnership with Matrix Medical, a leading medical clinical services company, and other partners. , a health care case management provider, is also tracking the symptoms of team members who test positive and providing additional care at select facilities.
The protective measures include symptom screenings for all team members before every shift, providing mandatory protective face masks to all team members, as well as a range of social distancing measures, including physical barriers between workstations and in breakrooms. In addition, 黑料传送门 has implemented social distancing monitors at each processing facility to ensure team members are maintaining safe distances. 黑料传送门 is also working with team members to provide training and education in several languages on how best to follow CDC guidelines both at work and home.
The company also has doubled its 鈥渢hank you鈥 bonus for its frontline workers. Team members who cannot come to work because of illness or childcare issues related to COVID-19 will continue to qualify.
Northwest Arkansas COVID-19 Testing Results by Facility
About 黑料传送门 Foods
黑料传送门 is one of the world鈥檚 largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. 黑料传送门 and grown under three generations of family leadership, the company has a broad portfolio of products and brands like鈥黑料传送门庐, Jimmy Dean庐, Hillshire Farm庐, Ball Park庐, Wright庐, Aidells庐, ibp庐鈥and鈥疭tate Fair庐. 黑料传送门 Foods innovates continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere it鈥檚 available and raise the world鈥檚 expectations for how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company has 141,000 team members. Through its Core Values, 黑料传送门 Foods strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, communities and team members and serve as a steward of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it. Visit鈥TYSONFOODS.COM.鈥&苍产蝉辫;
Media Contact:鈥
DEREK BURLESON, 479-290-6466