By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Missouri state health officials report 359 employees at Triumph Foods in St. Joseph have tested positive for the coronavirus even though they were not displaying symptoms at the time of the test.
State officials are awaiting more test results.
Northwest Health Services completed its testing of approximately 2,500 Triumph employees at a temporary onsite facility Friday morning. Triumph employs more than 2,800 at its pork processing plan in south St. Joseph. Northwest Health interim CEO Rodney Hummer says the remaining employees will be tested over the next few days at the Northwest southside facility.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services sent nearly 3,000 kits to St. Joseph after Triumph disclosed its first cases of COVID-19. It was the largest rapid deployment of test kits since the state announced it would respond quickly to any potential hot spots for the highly contagious coronavirus. Mass testing of all Triumph employees began Monday.
State officials say results continue to come in on a rolling basis and updates will be provided throughout the weekend.