HUNTINGBURG, IND. – Farbest Foods, a turkey processor in Indiana, conducted mandatory coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for employees at its Huntingburg plant on May 15. The company conducted the testing in partnership with Memorial Hospital, the Indiana State Department of Health and the Dubois County Health Department.
The company ran as scheduled over the weekend but planned to be closed on May 18 and 19 and reopen on May 20. Farbest said that if an employee did not get tested on May 15, they won’t be able to enter the plant when it reopens. The company permitted employees to get tested elsewhere but must provide proof of those results.
Without a test, Farbest employees will be forced to quarantine for 14 days unpaid.
Evansville, Ind.-based 14 News reported that health officials confirmed 42 cases of COVID-19 at the plant.
According to data by the Indiana State Department of Health on May 15, Dubois County, where the turkey plant sits, has 70 cases of COVID-19 with two deaths.