Lincoln Premium Poultry Confirms More COVID-19 Cases at Costco Chicken Plant

Lincoln Premium Poultry says two more employees at its chicken processing plant in Fremont, Nebraska, have fallen ill with symptoms of COVID-19. The company confirmed its first case of the disease earlier this week.

LPP confirmed in a statement the employees are isolating at home with sick pay. “Once we learned these team members were demonstrating symptoms, we advocated for testing and also removed additional employees known to be in close contact with these individuals,” said Jessica Kolterman, Director of Corporate and External Affairs.

The company has implemented a mitigation plan over the past month: the plant began limiting visitors to the plant before its first case was confirmed and screens the temperature of anybody who enters the building.

Social distancing is practiced throughout the plant where possible—like break rooms—and masks have been provided to employees. Lincoln Premium Poultry also gave workers a two dollar-per-hour raise starting in March.

The plant is considering further mitigation tactics. Representatives from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Fremont’s local health department will visit the plant Friday to provide feedback for the company.

“We have appreciated the proactive approach of Lincoln Premium Poultry and the interventions they implemented early on,” said Terra Uhing, Executive Director of Three Rivers Public Health Department.

“We look forward to continued communication and to working with them on additional measures to protect essential workers who are critical to our food system.”

For latest news, visit www.netnebraska.org/coronavirus.