Coronavirus

COVID-19 disproportionately affects minority meatpacking workers. These groups say racial discrimination is the reason.

Although they make up about 60 percent of all meatpacking workers in the U.S., people of color account for about 90 percent of those infected, according to federal data released this week. The companies did not follow the federal guidance that would have mitigated the virus’s spread among its minori

By Heather Schlitz, Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 10 Jul 2020

COVID-19 disproportionately affects minority meatpacking workers. These groups say racial discrimination is the reason.

Amid COVID-19 Concerns, Clinics Step Up Testing For Migrant Farmworkers

“When the pandemic first started, and we were just beginning to hear information about the impact on farmworkers, we knew it was coming,” Partida says. “You just knew that it was going to get worse and worse and worse.”

By Christine Herman, Side Effects Public Media

/ 9 Jul 2020

Amid COVID-19 Concerns, Clinics Step Up Testing For Migrant Farmworkers

Temporary worker at Central Illinois meat processing plant tests positive for Covid-19

After 26 days of no new reported cases, a Rantoul Foods worker has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

By Pam Dempsey, Investigate Midwest

/ 3 Jul 2020

Temporary worker at Central Illinois meat processing plant tests positive for Covid-19

Health and human provider relief fund allocations in Iowa as of June 30, 2020

Relief payments distributed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Health Resources and Services Administration have gone to the following Iowa health care providers, as

By IowaWatch database of U.S. HHS data compiled by Lyle Muller

/ 2 Jul 2020

EPA Inspector General: Covid-19 could affect agency’s ability to communicate health risks to communities

Covid-19 could hamper the EPA’s ability to inform communities of health risks, according to a report released this month from the agency’s Office of Inspector General. Specifically,

By Samuel Trilling, Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 25 Jun 2020

EPA Inspector General: Covid-19 could affect agency’s ability to communicate health risks to communities

“Fall-off-a-cliff moment”: Covid-19 adds new dimension to farmers’ stress

Farmers faced high levels of stress before the pandemic. But the virus’s impact on agriculture has only deepened some farmers’ stress, experts said.

By Marissa Plescia, Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 23 Jun 2020

“Fall-off-a-cliff moment”: Covid-19 adds new dimension to farmers’ stress

Health and human provider relief fund allocations in Iowa as of June 18, 2020

Relief payments distributed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Health Resources and Services Administration have gone to the following Iowa health care providers, as

By IowaWatch database of U.S. HHS data compiled by Lyle Muller

/ 18 Jun 2020

‘All smoke and mirrors’: How Trump’s meatpacking order has failed to keep workers safe

Since the executive order, COVID-19 cases tied to meatpacking plants have skyrocketed from fewer than 5,000 at the time to more than 25,000 as of this week, according to tracking from the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting. Rather than protecting workers, a half dozen experts and advocates s

By rachel-axon-usa-today-sky-chadde-midwest-center-for-investigative-reporting, Rachel Axon, USA TODAY and Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest

/ 18 Jun 2020

‘All smoke and mirrors’: How Trump’s meatpacking order has failed to keep workers safe

Meat and shopping: One more impact of the coronavirus on ordinary life

It began in mid-March when the new coronavirus became part of ordinary American life with shortages of household products like hand sanitizer, toilet paper and paper towels. Now, as May has turned to June, scarcity – and the fear of it -- is all about the meat. As of June 6, there have been at least

By Joey Birrittier/For Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

/ 16 Jun 2020

Coronavirus outbreaks climb at U.S. meatpacking plants despite protections, Trump order

Coronavirus outbreaks at U.S. meatpacking plants continue to soar as the beleaguered industry ramps up production, scales back plant closures and tries to return to normal in the weeks after President Donald Trump declared it an essential operation.

By rachel-axon-kyle-bagenstose-usa-today-sky-chadde-midwest-center-for-investigative-reporting, Rachel Axon, USA TODAY, Kyle Bagenstose, USA TODAY and Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest

/ 6 Jun 2020

Coronavirus outbreaks climb at U.S. meatpacking plants despite protections, Trump order

Three new coronavirus cases reported at Central Illinois meat processing plant

Health officials reported three new Covid-19 cases among workers at the meat processing plant Rantoul Foods Wednesday. In total, 91 workers have contracted the virus since April.

By Pam Dempsey, Investigate Midwest

/ 4 Jun 2020

Three new coronavirus cases reported at Central Illinois meat processing plant

Industry leaders expect COVID-19 to take some Iowa hospitals down

Some rural Iowa hospitals will not survive the COVID-19 outbreak, industry leaders said Wednesday. That dire warning came as the Iowa Hospital Association revealed projections that show the state’s 118 hospitals, collectively, could lose as much as $2.17 billion in revenue by the end of this year.

By Lyle Muller, IowaWatch

/ 3 Jun 2020

Industry leaders expect COVID-19 to take some Iowa hospitals down