Is there a COVID outbreak at an Idaho food plant near you? Check our updated map
As food processing plants and meatpacking plants across the country have proven to be potent and sometimes deadly coronavirus incubators, the Idaho Statesman is using an interactive map online to track and report COVID-19 outbreaks in food processing facilities and meatpacking plants across the state. As farms begin preparing for harvest and more workers head to the fields, the Idaho Statesman is also tracking clusters of illnesses among farmworkers and other agricultural laborers.
Data about facility and business outbreaks included on this map are the cumulative positive and probable cases at each facility since March, as provided and verified by each facility’s regional health district. Sometimes, the case numbers provided by the company are higher than those provided by the health district, because workers at the facility live in a different district. In that case, this map will use the company’s count. At some locations, all employees have recovered, while others may still have sick employees, or active cases.
Right now, Idaho health districts do not proactively release information about outbreaks or clusters of coronavirus cases among employees of food processing facilities, meatpacking plants or farms. This information is collected via regular public record requests made to Idaho health districts, and often prompted by anonymous tips about specific facilities.
Not all of Idaho’s public health districts track COVID-19 outbreaks in the same way. This map will be updated as frequently as public records requests allow.
Do you know about a COVID-19 outbreak in Idaho’s agricultural sector that’s not on our map? Do you work at a food processing or meatpacking plant and want to share your story? Contact the reporter at nfoy@idahostatesman or 661-549-0572 (phone and WhatsApp).
This story was originally published September 17, 2020 at 9:52 AM.
