Sampson County Reports Outbreak of COVID-19 at Smithfield Packing in Clinton

Author Brandon Plotnick

April 27th, 2020 5:02 PM

Sampson County officials have reported an “active outbreak” of COVID-19 cases at the Smithfield Packing Company plant in Clinton.

“Five employees of the plant have tested positive for COVID-19,” Health Department officials said in a Facebook post. “One employee is not a Sampson County resident and is therefore not reported in our total number of 45 cases. Smithfield and the Health Department are working closely together to assure adequate follow-up is being provided to all employees. The nine new cases are all in stable condition and isolated at home. One of the new cases is linked to other cases in a neighboring county.”

The county now reports 45 total positive cases.

https://www.facebook.com/sampsoncounty/photos/a.197757973924330/1100009610365824/

From Sampson County:

The Sampson County Health Department reports nine new positive cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total positive cases in Sampson County to 45.

Sampson County Health Department has identified an active outbreak at Smithfield Packing Company in Clinton, NC. Five employees of the plant have tested positive for COVID-19. One employee is not a Sampson County resident and is therefore not reported in our total number of 45 cases. Smithfield and the Health Department are working closely together to assure adequate follow-up is being provided to all employees. The nine new cases are all in stable condition and isolated at home. One of the new cases is linked to other cases in a neighboring county.

As reported with previous cases, the Health Department will work to identify close contacts, which the CDC defines as being within approximately 6 feet of a person with a COVID-19 infection for a prolonged period of time of 10 minutes or longer. Based on information provided by the individuals, county health officials will assess risks of exposure, and determine which if any additional measures are needed such as quarantine or testing.

COVID testing numbers for Sampson County as of April 27, 2020:
Total Number of Tests Performed: 275
Positive Test Results: 45 (12 recovered)
Negative Test Results: 220
Pending Results: 10
Deaths: 0

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Author Brandon Plotnick

Category:

• Coronavirus
• Coronavirus Local
• Local News
• Uncategorized