Allamakee County Emergency Management Agency and AGRISTAR

Posted: May 8, 2020

PRESS RELEASE

From: Allamakee County Emergency Management Agency and AGRISTAR

The following press release is provided for public dissemination:

The following release was done in cooperation with AGRISTAR and is in reference to the testing done at the AGRISTAR facility on Tuesday 5 May 2020.

On Tuesday 5 May 2020 COVID-19 testing was conducted at AGRISTAR in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Public Health and other State agencies.  AGRISTAR had requested this testing in April but was unable to have testing done until early May due to testing being done in other facilities across the state first.  This testing was requested as an additional step in the plants efforts to protect its employees and ensure its ability to continue operations and is not part of the Test Iowa Initiative.  Over 400 employees of the facility were tested and all testing was voluntary with the first of these results possibly being available as soon as Friday 8 May.  Employees were tested to see if they currently may have the COVID-19 virus or if they have had it in the past.  The test results will allow AGRISTAR to determine their employees’ health status and to assess any additional preventative measure efforts that may need to be taken in protecting its workforce health while maintaining critical operations in the country’s food chain.

No further information is available at this time.