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Three meat processing plants grapple with COVID-19, state officials confirm

Coronavirus
Posted at 9:48 AM, Jun 17, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-17 11:57:28-04

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's Department of Agriculture and Food has confirmed to FOX 13 that three meat processing facilities are dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks.

The facilities, located along the Wasatch Front, have not been named by state officials. Two of them have voluntarily closed, another is operating at half-capacity.

Meatpacking plants have been spotlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently been working with the JBS plant in Hyrum after an outbreak of the virus.

During a briefing to the Utah State Legislature's Interim Health & Human Services Committee on Tuesday, state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn said worksite infections are tied to about 78% of COVID-19 cases in Utah as restrictions loosen and people return to their jobs.

This is a developing news story. Updates on FOX 13 News and fox13now.com as information becomes available.