Tyson Foods plans to deploy on-site medical clinics after a breakout of COVID-19 at their Indiana processing plant infected nearly 900 employees. The country's largest meat producer also warned that America's food supply chain could be under distress.

On-Site Medical Clinics

Following the recent outbreak, the company announced that they plan to deploy medical clinics at selected plants and facilities. Matrix Medical Network will operate the clinics, and they will first be sent to Tyson Plants in Illinois, Iowa, and Washington.

Meanwhile, the schedule of medical clinics to be sent to other plants is yet to be determined according to the company's media release. Tyson Foods also gave an assurance that additional clinics will be sent to facilities as needed. 

Hector Gonzalez, Tyson Foods' senior vice president of human resources, said: "Tyson is committed to implementing all possible measures to protect our team members. We want to reopen our previously idled facilities, but also want to instill confidence in our workers and reassure them that we care deeply about their individual health needs. Our partnership with Matrix Medical Network will allow us to take additional precautions to help keep our employees safe."

The on-site mobile medical clinic includes diagnostic testing for COVID-19, daily on-site screenings, on-site nurse practitioner care, and educational and support resources for employees. Moreover, the Matric Medical Network will be assisting the company in its environmental design to mitigate the virus.  

Outbreak Could Disrupt the Food Supply Chain

Aside from its plant in Indiana, several other Tyson plants voluntarily shut down its operation due to COVID-19 concern. Some of these plants are located in Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Nebraska, and Washington, where many employees tested positive for the virus.

This situation does not only raise concern among its employees, but it has also raised concern in the nation's food supply. Tyson Foods Chairman John H. Tyson took a full-page ad in different news outlets to stress out the company's response to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in its plants and facilities.

Further, he also asserted that the closures of the company's plants and facilities would not only affect its employees but as well as the food chain in the country. It can be remembered that Tyson warned last week, saying, "The food supply chain is breaking."

According to the financial analysts and business insiders, this phenomenon will be felt as early as next week. Consumers have to expect to see a lesser selection in the supermarket meat aisle.

900 Workers Test Positive for COVID-19 

The Tyson Foods plant located in Indiana has around 2,200 employees, and nearly 900 of its employees tested positive for COVID-19. This means that almost 40 percent of employees were infected. Following this, the company said that hundreds of their employees are now screened and monitored.

This led the company to temporarily shut down its operation to control the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, Tyson Foods has been working to strategically reopen its plant to sustain the food chain in the country.

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