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USDA’s Ibach says coronavirus protection measures in packing plants are working

USDA Under Secretary Greg Ibach says coronavirus protection measures implemented by packing plants have greatly reduced the likelihood of the virus spreading within those plants.

Ibach says shielding, masking and social distancing measures are proving effective in controlling the spread of the virus inside the plants.

“We feel now, and many epidemiologists that have viewed these feel, that the likelihood of coronavirus spread in a processing plant today is virtually nil—and definitely no greater than what you would have out in the normal community,” Ibach says.

There are reports that COVID-19 cases in some packing plants are once again on the increase. Ibach says one of the reasons for that is increased testing of plant workers.

“Just like with any disease—the common flu, the common cold—the more you test, the more you’re going to find those,” he says, “and I think that’s one of the reasons why we continue to see those numbers gain, because we continue to test those workers at a very high rate.”

Ibach made those comments Thursday during Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts’ daily COVID-19 news conference.