Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Hundreds Of Tyson Foods Workers Hit By Coronavirus In Arkansas; China Suspends Imports From One Facility
Chinese authorities suspended chicken imports from a Tyson Foods Inc. TSN -1.25% facility due to what Chinese officials said were Covid-19 infections among the plants employees. The suspension issued Sunday covered products that have arrived in China or are about to arrive there, according to Chinas General Administration of Customs. The agencys order didnt specify how much chicken the Tyson facility supplied, or other details about the products. (Bunge and Craymer, 6/21)
Tyson Foods confirmed to NPR that the announcement pertains to its Berry Street facility in Springdale, Ark., where 227 workers tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this month. All but four of them were asymptomatic, according to Tyson. The company said that tests of its facilities in northwest Arkansas showed that 481 employees, or 13% of 3,748 employees, had tested positive. The company said 455 of those employees (95%) were asymptomatic. (Slotkin, 6/21)
Tyson Foods is looking into reports that Chinas customs agency has suspended poultry imports from a Tyson facility in the United States after coronavirus cases were confirmed among its employees. A Tyson spokesman said Sunday that the plant in question is in Springdale, Arkansas. At Tyson, were confident our products are safe and were hopeful consultations between the U.S. and Chinese governments will resolve this matter, wrote spokesman Gary Mickelson in an email to The Associated Press. (Lush, 6/21)
