Livingston factory to be temporarily closed by Foster Farms
Liveston, California Following a COVID-19 outbreak related to 392 positive cases and eight deaths, Foster Farms said that it will stop its poultry processing complex in Livingston for six days in order to conduct thorough cleaning and employee testing. The announcement, which is a component of an updated Health Officer Order, was made during a meeting with representatives from the Merced County Department of Health (MCDPH) on August 28.
During the shutdown, the 1,400 employees will be put through two rounds of thorough testing and the facility will have two deep cleanings. Additionally, the business announced that it will test its “major processing and logistical facilities that comprise the Livingston Poultry Complex” twice.
In order to guarantee the safe departure of chickens from the factory and to be ready for the deep cleaning, the closure will start in the evening of September 1.
The complex’s remaining businesses, where there hasn’t been an epidemic, will continue as usual while adhering to preventative measures like social distance, personnel screening, offering personal protective equipment, and expanding employee break rooms.
The complex is thought to represent the most serious and persistent epidemic in the county since the outbreak at the facility was declared on June 29, according to MCDPH.
After making several visits to the plant, representatives from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), MCDPH, and Cal/OSHA collaborated to execute two health orders: the first of which ordered the plant’s closure, and the second of which was an initial one In a letter to Foster Farms prior to the most recent order, Erica Pan, MD, the acting state health officer with CDPH, voiced support for the county and agreed that the business needed to move quickly to safeguard employees.
Foster Farms released a statement on 28 August prior to the closure notice, stating that the rise in cases at the plant was in line with the state of California reopening businesses and easing Covid-19 limitations.
“It is crucial to acknowledge that the rise in positive results at the Livingston complex happened after the remarkable surge in Merced County, where cases skyrocketed from 300 to more than 7,800 cases in a span of several weeks, after California lifted COVID-19 limitations,” Foster Farms stated in its August 28 release declaration. “While personnel are on our property, Foster Farms’ extensive suite of COVID-19 mitigations, when promptly deployed in accordance with CDC advice, can protect them; nevertheless, we are unable to completely protect them when they are exposed in the community at large. Although there may be some understanding given this context, we should never become complacent about employee illness or death.
Foster Farms stated on August 29 that it is dedicated to collaborating with county health officials to stop, monitor, and restrict the virus’s transmission while keeping lines of communication open, exchanging data with MCDPH, and updating staff members on the outbreak’s status.
The business stated, “COVID-19 is not a company’s product any more than it is the fault of a people, or a community.” It is abhorrent that communities like Merced County and businesses like Foster Farms can cooperate to overcome. Foster Farms shares the excitement of the country for the day when COVID-19 is eradicated. To protect the wellbeing of the larger community in which we live and work, we are eager to establish a long-term partnership with the Merced Public Health Department.