Nearly 1,000 meat plant workers test positive for COVID-19

The number of workers infected with COVID-19 at meat-processing facilities has more than doubled in the last week, from 479 to 982 cases across North Carolina.

Since April 28, state health officials have identified seven additional plants with outbreaks, bringing the total to 20 facilities in the following 12 counties: Bertie, Bladen, Chatham, Duplin, Lee, Lenoir, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Union, Wilkes and Wilson.

The Department of Health and Human Services has not named the meat packing plants or the number of positive cases at each location.

At Wednesday's press briefing, WRAL News asked DHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen for more transparency about the number of cases at meat processing facilities.

"I hear you, so stay tuned for more information," said Cohen when asked by a third reporter about releasing more data.

WRAL has confirmed at least 76 employees at the Smithfield Foods plant in Tar Heel have been infected with the novel coronavirus. The plant is the largest pork processing facility in the world and employs 4,500 people.

The Bladen County Health Department will only confirm at least two residents who work at the plant have tested positive. Robeson County reports 52 of its residents linked to the plant have been infected. There are also nine employees in Hoke County, seven employees in Columbus County, three employees in Scotland County and three employees in Harnett County who tested positive for COVID-19.

"Until they get everybody tested and find out who got it, they are going to keep passing that stuff around out there. It ain't going to go away," said a Smithfield employee who tested positive in April.

The employee, who spent 11 days in isolation at the hospital, says he first developed a fever and chills. A couple of days later, he could hardly breathe.

"I was scared," he said. "I was probably one step away from the ventilators and induced coma with the breathing problems."

"I was really scared even after I got out of the hospital."

The worker says Smithfield Foods never contacted him about his supervisor testing positive. When he got sick, he says the company did not alert his coworkers on the same floor.

"It is crazy. They didn't know I had it until I told them. I had to go on Facebook Messenger and all and tell all these people that I was sick, be careful," the employee said.

Smithfield Foods calls its communications with employees "robust and plentiful."

On its website, the company says employees who test positive are asked to identify all coworkers they came in close contact with for 14 days and "the company will notify these team members without identifying the employee."

The man who tested positive says he is thankful for a full recovery and to be reunited with his family, including his nine-month-old granddaughter.

"I missed my little baby. She is my heart," the worker said. "I am better. I'm happy to be here. I'm blessed. God took care of me."

The Bladen County Health Department says employees at Smithfield Foods have access to free testing at CommWell Health of Tar Heel. The health center is located across the street from the plant on NC 87.