ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) – A New Mexico state company reported that 21 workers at a meatpacking plant in Roswell tested positive for COVID-19, the most cases reported to the state through singles in the region.
The New Mexico Department of environment begged José Madrid, owner of USA Beef Packing LLC, on how to deal with the case flow, Roswell Daily Record reported.
Madrid said it cooperates with the state while investigating the reasons for the number of instances and reducing its operations to around 10%.
The agency’s reports show that the company reported its first positive check on July 28 and had two as of July 31. The number of cases increased to 21 on Wednesday. The company closed after the first case shown and all workers had to be controlled, said branch spokeswoman Maddy Hayden.
A company-quality official had in the past told the Daily Record that the plant was following all federal and state rules related to food and worker safety, adding measures of social estrangement and worker temperatures.
“At USA Beef Packing, we perceive the importance of continuing our essential service; providing the world with healthy and nutritious food,” the company said in a statement, adding that it follows all mandatory protective precautions.
The number of infections is thought to be much higher because many other people have not been evaluated and studies recommend that other people may become inflamed with the virus without feeling unwell.
For others, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that go away in two to three weeks. For some, especially the elderly and others with existing physical disorders, this can lead to more serious illnesses, which adds to pneumonia and death.