JBS Packerland closed indefinitely as OSHA investigates outbreak

A meatpacking plant temporarily closed its facility in Green Bay after it became what appears to be Wisconsin's largest outbreak of COVID-19 at a single facility. JBS USA announced the closure of the beef plant on Lime Kiln Road Sunday afternoon in a news release. "Given the continued spread of coronavirus in our community and among our workforce, we have decided to voluntarily close our Green Bay facility in an effort to help flatten the curve of infections in Brown County," the company said in the statement. The number of confirmed cases in Brown County surged to 776 Sunday afternoon, according to the state Department of Health Services. At least 189 cases were linked to JBS Packerland, county officials said Friday. The plant is the fourth location ordered to close after workers tested positive for the virus. Plants were closed in Greeley, Colorado; Worthington, Minnesota; and Souderton, Pennsylvania, but the Greeley and Souderton facilities reopened last week. The company said they have increased efforts to protect workers at its plants including checking employees' temperatures, adding more personal protective equipment, areas for social distancing, and frequent cleaning of the plant. But advocates say the plant didn't take protective measures early enough to keep workers safe. U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Friday that the agency is looking into the outbreaks at the JBS and American Foods Group plants...MORE