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To Understand the Danger of COVID-19 Outbreaks in Meatpacking Plants, Look at the Industry’s History

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University of Maine

Originally published as "To Understand the Danger of COVID-19 Outbreaks in Meatpacking Plants, Look at the Industry’s History," The Conversation, May 6, 2020

Large meatpacking plants have become hotspots for coronavirus infection, along with jails and nursing homes. As of May 1, nearly 5,000 packing plant workers in 19 states had fallen ill, and 20 had died.

Packing plants from Washington state to Iowa to Georgia have temporarily suspended operations, although President Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act in an effort to quickly restart these facilities.