COVID-19 Infections at a Local Food Processing Plant Raises Concern

According to WGRZ News, Fieldbrook Foods Corporation in Dunkirk, NY is the focus of concern regarding a number of isolated COVID-19 cases at their plant.  Officials at a press conference in Chautauqua County, according to the WGRZ News report, said that 22 of the 31 active COVID-19 cases in Chautauqua County are employees at or connected in some way to Fieldbrook Foods.  In addition to that, the WGRZ report states that the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services Officials say that "10 of the 15 reported positive cases reported over the weekend were related to Fieldbrook Foods".

Christine Schuyler, Public Health Director, according to WGRZ, said this:

"We received the first positive COVID-19 test result related to Fieldbrook Foods on August 16.  The initial case investigations found several confirmed cases associated with this employer, indicating the potential for a larger outbreak to occur. As such, we have been proactively working with New York State Department of Health and administration of Fieldbrook Foods to manage and control the spread of disease. The increased number of positive tests reported this weekend substantiated our concern about a potentially larger outbreak.”

Fieldbrook released this statement on Monday: (per WGRZ News)

Fieldbrook Foods Corporation has partnered with the Chautauqua County Health Department and the State of New York to offer voluntary COVID-19 testing at our facility. We feel this is a great opportunity to partner with the County and the State and potentially ease the minds of any employees who may have concerns about COVID-19. We have been monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely with our team members’ health and safety our number one priority. Approximately 4% of the employees at our Dunkirk, NY manufacturing facility have tested positive since COVID-19 began.