New coronavirus hotspot

Gov. Andrew Cuomo at his daily briefing likened the spread of COVID-19 at Green Empire Farms in Oneida to the outbreaks at meat-packaging plants across the country, the Democrat & Chronicle reported.

"It is about worker density and large gatherings. That's the caution flag here," said Cuomo.

At least 139 workers at the facility, which employs 300, have tested positive for the virus, including two who have been hospitalized, according to Madison County health director Eric Faisst.

All infected workers are in isolation, and another round of testing is underway, he said.

Officials are investigating the outbreak and anyone found to have had contact with any of the sick workers is being alerted.

The food supply coming from the greenhouse is safe to eat, Faisst added.

The facility sells produce to grocery stores under the Sunset and Backyard Farms brands, Syracuse.com reported.

The farm has been working with Madison County since March on implementing safe working conditions amid the outbreak, and employees were practicing social distancing and given masks, Faisst said.

He suspected that the staffers did not catch the virus at work.

"This disease is everywhere now," Faisst said. "You can get it anywhere… You can get it from anybody."

Source: New York Post

Photo by Ally Asuncion on Unsplash

Source: New York Post