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Nearly 2 Million Chickens Killed as Poultry Workers Are Sidelined Nearly 2 Million Chickens Killed as Poultry Workers Are Sidelined
(3 days later)
A chicken processing company based in Delaware killed nearly 2 million chickens this month after many of its workers were sidelined by illness or quarantine orders related to the coronavirus, industry officials said.A chicken processing company based in Delaware killed nearly 2 million chickens this month after many of its workers were sidelined by illness or quarantine orders related to the coronavirus, industry officials said.
The action by Allen Harim Foods was the latest example of how food processors are being affected by the coronavirus, which is keeping workers away because of illness or quarantine. Meat processors, dairy farmers and vegetable growers have shuttered plants or dumped products at a time when many Americans are lining up at food banks or facing scarcity at supermarkets.The action by Allen Harim Foods was the latest example of how food processors are being affected by the coronavirus, which is keeping workers away because of illness or quarantine. Meat processors, dairy farmers and vegetable growers have shuttered plants or dumped products at a time when many Americans are lining up at food banks or facing scarcity at supermarkets.
Delmarva Poultry Industry Inc., which represents plants on the Delmarva Peninsula, a 170-mile-long strip of land shared by Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, announced the plans in a memo to its members on April 9, saying the plant was one of many facing difficulties in meeting production targets.Delmarva Poultry Industry Inc., which represents plants on the Delmarva Peninsula, a 170-mile-long strip of land shared by Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, announced the plans in a memo to its members on April 9, saying the plant was one of many facing difficulties in meeting production targets.
“Because of reduced attendance, meat processing companies may need to make the difficult choice to humanely depopulate animals on farms instead of transporting them to plants with reduced processing capacity,” Holly Porter, the executive director of the organization, said in a statement on Tuesday.“Because of reduced attendance, meat processing companies may need to make the difficult choice to humanely depopulate animals on farms instead of transporting them to plants with reduced processing capacity,” Holly Porter, the executive director of the organization, said in a statement on Tuesday.
“One chicken company on Delmarva took this step earlier this month,” she said.“One chicken company on Delmarva took this step earlier this month,” she said.
Ms. Porter said the company euthanized nearly 2 million chickens on farms in Delaware and Maryland using methods approved for cases of infectious avian disease.Ms. Porter said the company euthanized nearly 2 million chickens on farms in Delaware and Maryland using methods approved for cases of infectious avian disease.
There are 1,325 growers and five chicken processing companies on the Delmarva Peninsula that operate a total of 10 processing plants.There are 1,325 growers and five chicken processing companies on the Delmarva Peninsula that operate a total of 10 processing plants.
Michele Minton, the director of live operations for Allen Harim Foods, told growers in a letter on April 8 that it would be forced to start depopulating chickens on April 10.Michele Minton, the director of live operations for Allen Harim Foods, told growers in a letter on April 8 that it would be forced to start depopulating chickens on April 10.
Worker attendance was at 50 percent, meaning the company was no longer able to harvest the amount of birds needed to meet targets, Ms. Minton said in the letter, which was published by The News Journal of Wilmington, Del., and other local news organizations. She and other company officials could not be reached for comment.Worker attendance was at 50 percent, meaning the company was no longer able to harvest the amount of birds needed to meet targets, Ms. Minton said in the letter, which was published by The News Journal of Wilmington, Del., and other local news organizations. She and other company officials could not be reached for comment.
The news of the Delmarva chicken killings, which The Baltimore Sun reported last week, has highlighted the strains on the food supply chain in the United States as the virus undermines staffing, either through illness or isolation orders.The news of the Delmarva chicken killings, which The Baltimore Sun reported last week, has highlighted the strains on the food supply chain in the United States as the virus undermines staffing, either through illness or isolation orders.
As workers get sick, plants and producers are casting around for solutions. Beef and pork processors have closed their plants. Farmers are dumping excess dairy products and plowing unharvested vegetables back into fields or compost.As workers get sick, plants and producers are casting around for solutions. Beef and pork processors have closed their plants. Farmers are dumping excess dairy products and plowing unharvested vegetables back into fields or compost.
“This is just total waste to me,” Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York said at a news briefing on Monday, announcing that the state would purchase dairy products from farmers who had lost important customers as schools, restaurants and hotels have been shuttered.“This is just total waste to me,” Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York said at a news briefing on Monday, announcing that the state would purchase dairy products from farmers who had lost important customers as schools, restaurants and hotels have been shuttered.
John Tyson, the chairman of Tyson Foods, one of the nation’s largest meat processing companies, said illnesses and shutdowns were posing new challenges, and depopulating was one of the symptoms.John Tyson, the chairman of Tyson Foods, one of the nation’s largest meat processing companies, said illnesses and shutdowns were posing new challenges, and depopulating was one of the symptoms.
“Farmers across the nation simply will not have anywhere to sell their livestock to be processed, when they could have fed the nation,” Mr. Tyson said in a statement that was published in national newspapers, including The New York Times, over the weekend.“Farmers across the nation simply will not have anywhere to sell their livestock to be processed, when they could have fed the nation,” Mr. Tyson said in a statement that was published in national newspapers, including The New York Times, over the weekend.
“Millions of animals — chickens, pigs and cattle — will be depopulated because of the closure of our processing facilities,” he said. “The food supply chain is breaking.”“Millions of animals — chickens, pigs and cattle — will be depopulated because of the closure of our processing facilities,” he said. “The food supply chain is breaking.”
In March, the National Chicken Council said that it was not seeing any disruptions in production and that there were ample amounts of surplus chicken in cold storage.In March, the National Chicken Council said that it was not seeing any disruptions in production and that there were ample amounts of surplus chicken in cold storage.
Updated June 5, 2020 Updated June 12, 2020
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.
Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home.
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
But nationwide, individual companies are grasping for solutions. Sanderson Farms, a Mississippi-based chicken processor, has explored putting its reduced staff to work packing chicken, but skipping the labor-intensive process of dividing the birds.But nationwide, individual companies are grasping for solutions. Sanderson Farms, a Mississippi-based chicken processor, has explored putting its reduced staff to work packing chicken, but skipping the labor-intensive process of dividing the birds.
Delaware’s agriculture secretary, Michael T. Scuse, said in a news release last month that the state’s poultry processing industry had a “vital part” in upholding the food supply chain in the United States. He said it must remain functioning at full capacity, and he encouraged workers “to give extraordinary effort in these challenging times.”Delaware’s agriculture secretary, Michael T. Scuse, said in a news release last month that the state’s poultry processing industry had a “vital part” in upholding the food supply chain in the United States. He said it must remain functioning at full capacity, and he encouraged workers “to give extraordinary effort in these challenging times.”
In her email on Tuesday, Ms. Porter, the executive director of the trade organization, said all of Delmarva’s chicken processing plants were open and producing chicken, although many were not operating at full capacity.In her email on Tuesday, Ms. Porter, the executive director of the trade organization, said all of Delmarva’s chicken processing plants were open and producing chicken, although many were not operating at full capacity.
Allen Harim has also pivoted to other methods to move products. For weeks, it has been organizing drive-by chicken sales at fire stations and at the Delaware International Speedway, according to fliers posted on the company’s Facebook pages and the Delmarva Poultry Farmers Network Facebook group.Allen Harim has also pivoted to other methods to move products. For weeks, it has been organizing drive-by chicken sales at fire stations and at the Delaware International Speedway, according to fliers posted on the company’s Facebook pages and the Delmarva Poultry Farmers Network Facebook group.
Charles Cathell, the president of the US 13 Dragway, which includes the speedway, watched as tractor-trailers pulled up on Saturday with cases of chicken parts. Cars had lined up before 6 a.m., he said on Monday. Allen Harim workers, wearing masks, took orders through cracked car windows. The cases were loaded into vehicle trunks at the end of the drag strip.Charles Cathell, the president of the US 13 Dragway, which includes the speedway, watched as tractor-trailers pulled up on Saturday with cases of chicken parts. Cars had lined up before 6 a.m., he said on Monday. Allen Harim workers, wearing masks, took orders through cracked car windows. The cases were loaded into vehicle trunks at the end of the drag strip.
Mr. Cathell said Allen Harim had contacted the speedway, wanting to sell at sites other than fire stations. “They did it the last couple of weeks with the help not able to show up,” he said. “We just thought if we could do a small part, it could help.”Mr. Cathell said Allen Harim had contacted the speedway, wanting to sell at sites other than fire stations. “They did it the last couple of weeks with the help not able to show up,” he said. “We just thought if we could do a small part, it could help.”