SPRINGFIELD —
The Clark County Combined Health District identified 20 cases of COVID-19 linked to the Dole Fresh Vegetables packaging plant.
Of the 20 cases, 12 are Dole employees (10 confirmed and two probable); eight are contacts of employees (five confirmed and three probable); and three cases involve people who do not live in Clark County, according to a statement released by the district Tuesday evening.
RELATED: Health district monitors workplace coronavirus outbreak in Clark County
The health district on Monday announced it was monitoring the first workplace outbreak in Clark County, and Tuesday identified Dole as the company.
The health district said it has been working closely with Dole to monitor and contain the outbreak since the first case was detected April 22, and said Dole has “gone above and beyond the required safety precautions” and assisted with contact tracing and telling those affected to stay home and to quarantine.
“Dole has been a great partner in the investigation of this outbreak,” Clark County Health Commissioner Charles Patterson stated in the release. “They have gone over and above the state and CDC recommendations. They are doing everything right.”
According to a statement from Dole, “the safety of employees, families, communities and products remain Dole’s top priority.”
However, one Clark County woman said she is livid county officials waited a month to report the outbreak at Dole.
The woman, who declined to be identified, said she is immunocompromised and has been in close contact with a relative who works at the plant. She also said that her relative was unaware of any workplace cases before Tuesday’s announcement.
“As far as I’m concerned, he’s totally abdicated his responsibility to the people of Clark County,” she said of Patterson.
The CCCHD and Dole are continuing to monitor the outbreak, the statement said.
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