16 employees at Prestage Foods of Eagle Grove test positive for COVID-19

Prestage Foods of Iowa has received confirmation from Iowa Department of Public Health that 16 employees who work at its pork plant in Eagle Grove have tested positive for COVID-19. Tests were conducted Friday and Saturday after plant officials contacted local regulatory agencies requesting the testing.

The following is a statement from John Prestage, Sr. Vice President of Prestage Farms, Inc.:

We learned late last week that some of our team members who live in Black Hawk County have been in contact with other individuals there who tested positive for COVID-19 or were exposed to COVID-19. After learning that, we knew it was critical to move forward immediately in coordinating testing for these employees. We believe it was important to take this voluntary action as soon as possible for the well-being of not only these specific team members, but all of our Prestage Foods employees and their families, as well as our community.                

The employees who tested positive are isolating at home and will not be eligible to return to work at Prestage Foods until after a quarantine period specified by health officials. The company will continue to pay these team members during this time.

While Prestage Foods of Iowa has not experienced any cases of obvious illness nor hospitalizations, we will continue to work with local and state regulatory agencies to provide testing of all of our employees and on-site service providers over the next two days. Plant operations will be limited until all testing occurs and results are received.