Tyson Foods announces new testing strategy at plants nationwide

WILKESBORO, N.C. — In an effort to stop the spread of the virus, Tyson Foods has announced it is implementing a new testing strategy at its plants across the country.

Tyson Foods plans to test a sample of workers nationwide at its 140 facilities as well as employees who have symptoms or who have been in close contact with someone with the virus.

The new policy comes after nearly 600 workers at the plant in Wilkesboro tested positive for the virus in May.

At the time, Channel 9 reported the outbreak at the facility led to positive cases in several of the surrounding counties.

Tyson employs tens of thousands of workers nationwide. In order to increase testing, the company has created a chief medical officer position and is adding 200 nurse support personnel to its 400 member health service team.

Since spring, the company has done health screenings of employees, required face mask and shields, and has put up barriers around work stations.

Tyson employee says he was told to keep working while waiting on COVID-19 results Tyson employee says he was told to keep working while waiting on COVID-19 results

Channel 9′s Dave Faherty spoke with Shawn Brown, the mayor of Claremont, where more than 700 people work at Tyson, about the changes.

“The only place that some of these folks will get tested regularly is in the workplace, which then helps them to not transmit when they go on to their families,” Brown said.

Nationwide, less than one percent of Tyson’s workers have active COVID-19.

Cox Media Group