Burgers' Smokehouse: No uptick in COVID-19 cases

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Since resuming operations last week, Burgers' Smokehouse hasn't seen an uptick in coronavirus cases among employees following additional testing.

The California meat-processing plant suspended operations April 22 after at least 21 of its more than 300 employees tested positive for COVID-19.

Burgers' Smokehouse President Steven Burger said in a statement Friday asymptomatic employees were offered the opportunity to be voluntarily tested after the plant resumed operations Thursday. In total, 102 employees were tested, and the swabs were sent to the state lab for analysis.

Burger said the company isn't at liberty to disclose the results of the tests, though officials were pleased to learn the data didn't indicate additional spread of the virus among employees.

"Currently, the plant is running in accordance with President Trump's executive order to 'take appropriate action to ensure that meat and poultry processors continue operations consistent with the guidance for their operations jointly issued by the CDC and OSHA,'" Burger said.

Moniteau County remains under a countywide stay-at-home order through Sunday, an extension to the statewide order that expired last Sunday. The county order was prompted by a spike of almost 50 new cases - including those among Burgers' Smokehouse employees - reported in a 14-day span in late April.

As of Friday afternoon, Moniteau County still had 10 active COVID-19 cases, though 42 patients have recovered from COVID-19 and no deaths related to the coronavirus have been reported in the county.