The Minnesota Health Department reports 3,816 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus, and 286 deaths, an increase of 14 from Sunday.
Monday state officials said the closure of meat processing plants, particularly Smithfield in Sioux Falls and JBS in Worthington, is having a significant effect in Minnesota. It hits both farmers and customers who will see likely higher prices and animals euthanized.
“For now our food supply is stable,” Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said. “They will see some disruptions as they have, and they might see some higher prices that will become more pronounced depending on how long we’re in this situation with COVID-19.”
Petersen said it’s stable right now because of “what’s in storage,” but there’s no doubt that the region’s closure of multiple plants will have ripple effects.
He added that eating habits, including eating from home, are also making an impact and the “systems need to catch up.”
The agency is working to expand capacity to handle more animals at smaller plants and farmers are feeding their hogs different food to slow their growth, but between 100 and 200,000 hogs a week have to be rehomed. Jennie-O in Wilmer is diverting turkeys to other plants, for example.
Petersen estimated the two plants accounted for more than 50 percent of capacity in Minnesota.
Some animals were euthanized last week.
“We will be needing to euthanize some animals,” he said. “We’re taking every step to not have that happen, but there will be that taking place. We’ll be working with the American Veterinary Medical Association for best practices.”
Prime Pork in Windom has re-opened after it shut down last week, Petersen said, but officials are focusing in on the plants statewide.
The state provides guidance on how to physical distance, employee screening, and getting symptomatic workers tested, but it’s largely the local health care system and local public health officials that take the lead in trying to get the plants back up and running. MDH is not in a regulatory role.
Labor and Industry Commissioner Nancy Leppink said they’re contacting plants individually but they expect employers to ensure workers are physical distancing and wearing PPE.
“None of the departments have the resources to do routine site visits at these facilities so we are addressing them, as I said, based on receipt of complaints, but also addressing them based on where we see potential spikes or incidents of workers testing positive.”
They’re taking the same approach to keep plants open: test, trace and isolate.