18% of Tri-Cities coronavirus cases linked to Tyson plant. Federal inspectors also tested

Three more workers at the Tyson Fresh Meats plant near the Tri-Cities have tested positive for COVID-19, the Walla Walla County Department of Community Health said Monday afternoon.

It brings the total positive tests to 147 out of 1,239, or nearly 12 percent, for the group tested since the plant shutdown.

At least another 104 workers tested positive before the plant was closed.

And Walla Walla County health officials are still waiting for results for 38 more people, which could include 19 U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors working at Tyson. County health officials said Monday those federal workers had been tested, in addition to Tyson workers.

Walla Walla County health officials ordered testing for the full plant more than a week ago after more than 100 Tyson employees living in four counties and two states tested positive.

Two workers at the beef slaughter and processing plant have died of complications of COVID-19, according to the Benton Franklin Health District.

Many workers at the plant commute from the Tri-Cities area to the Tyson plant at Wallula south of Pasco.

The Benton Franklin Health District reported on Monday that 205 Tyson workers who live in the two counties have had COVID-19. However, not all cases from plant testing results received so far have been added to the total on the health district’s website.

So far they account for about 18 percent of the known cases in the Tri-Cities area.

Walla Walla County health officials said they will work with Tyson Foods on when to reopen the closed plant.

Employees who tested negative may return to work when the plant reopens and those with positive tests are eligible to return to work after seven symptom-free days.

Tyson closes meat plants

Tyson will need to follow requirements of Walla Walla health officials, including screening workers for symptoms, checking temperatures, maintaining distance between employees and communicating information about COVID-19 and precautions to workers in the language they understand best. More than 11 languages are spoken at the plant.

Tyson had implemented many of the measures before testing began. Tyson cooperated with the testing and paid for it, along with saying it would pay employees for the time they spent self-isolating at home while waiting for test results.

Tyson Foods posted a letter to workers on Friday saying that their health and welfare and that of their families was its top priority.

Several of its beef and pork plants across the nation have closed because of COVID-19 outbreaks among workers.

When they reopen, Tyson Foods will be bringing mobile health clinics to plants to provide onsite testing for COVID-19, it said.

The Centers for Disease Control said Friday that COVID-19 cases have been reported in workers at 115 meat and poultry processing facilities in 19 states. At those plants there have been 20 deaths attributed to the disease.

Tyson praised President Donald Trump’s order last week under the Defense Production Act to keep meat and poultry plants operating.

The order requires that the secretary of agriculture take all appropriate action to ensure that meat processors continue operations consistent with guidance for safe operations from the Centers for Disease Control.

“The U.S. government took decisive action to recognize the essential work of our company by prioritizing support for meat and poultry processors and clarifying the standards America should follow to return workers safely back to the workplace,” the Tyson message said.

Tyson Foods said the Wallula plant can produce enough beef in one day to feed 4 million people.