July 22, 2020

Brazil judge rules JBS plant workers to stay home because of COVID-19

All 1,000 workers from a JBS plant in Tres Passos, Rio Grande do Sul state have been ordered to stay home for two weeks by a Brazilian judge after an outbreak was detected in the plant, Reuters reported.

State prosecutors said over 40% of the staff have tested positive for COVID-19. This plant is one of the six meatpacking plants in Brazil that have been prohibited from exporting meat to China.

JBS told Reuters that it will not comment on the case, but added that it is adhering to strict safety standards.

COVID-19 outbreaks have been reported at JBS plants in Brazil and the United States, raising concerns that JBS isn't protecting its workers from the virus.

Prosecutors said one JBS worker had died in June from COVID-19 complications, and there are more than 400 workers who have already tested positive for COVID-19 at that plant.

Several JBS plants have been closed temporarily or resumed operations in the past few months after conflicting court case results.

-          Reuters