Governor Laura Kelly says Lyon County is among four counties that will see expanded testing for coronavirus with additional supplies and personal protective equipment coming to the state.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to “test and contain recent clusters of positive coronavirus cases in Kansas counties centered around food and meat processing plants.” None have been announced in Emporia.
KVOE has reached out to Cargill, Hill’s and Simmons for their situations and is awaiting responses. Tyson says it will not release information about whether it has confirmed coronavirus patients in its local workforce, although Communications Manager Liz Croston tells KVOE News the company has implemented social distancing measures, added more cleaning, provided face coverings, checking worker temperatures and encouraged workers to stay home when sick. If employees test positive, they remain on sick leave until they are cleared to work.
Lyon County Public Health is not saying at this time what supplies and PPE have been sent to Lyon County.
Kelly says this is a collaborative effort at the local, state and national level to protect the nation’s food supply and the health of essential food workers. She thanked Senators Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts for their help with the supplies.
