Tyson suspends operations at Iowa pork plant

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Tyson Foods has suspended operations at a pork processing in Columbus Junction, Iowa after more than two dozen employees at the facility have tested positive for coronavirus.

The livestock scheduled to go the plant has been rerouted to others in the area.

“We continue to explore and implement additional ways to promote more social distancing in our plants. This includes erecting dividers between workstations or increasing the space between workers on the production floor, which can involve slowing production lines,” Tyson Foods CEO Noel White said in a statement. “We’re also creating more room in non-production areas. For example, at some locations, we’ve set up tents to create outdoor break rooms.”

A spokesperson confirmed that all 1,400 furloughed workers at the plant would be paid through the week.

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