A Tyson Foods Facility on the West End of Portland.

Thanks, But No Thanks.

Dr. Nirav Shah, Director of the Maine CDC, said that he understands that Tyson Foods, is planning to”Idle” the packaging plant it runs on the west end of Portland.  Director Shah said this today at his daily COVID-19 briefing.  The national company, Tyson, has reported eleven cases of the deadly virus and no deaths  as of today.  Meanwhile, universal testing of the 400 employees at the plant is anticipated according to Dr. Shah.

The name Tyson Foods has become associated with serious outbreaks at its meat packing plants in the mid-west.  A controversy erupted because Trumpy has ordered that its plants remain open, despite the wide-spread outbreak and questionable practices to protect its employees.

Dr. Shah reported there have been 55 deaths – an increase of two from yesterday – in the state of Maine.  Falmouth by the Sea, a private nursing home in Falmouth Foreside, has reported an  additional six confirmed cases of the COVID-19.  Dr. Shah did not give the total number of cases associated with both the residents and staff members at Falmouth by the Sea..

Previously Dr. Shah reported that starting next week and on a weekly basis thereafter, Maine will receive much larger shipments of swabs  – crucial in testing for the COVID-19.  Today he reported that some of those swabs, although he did not say how many,  will be coming from Puritan Medical Products, Guildford.  MaineBiz reported today that Puritan will be increasing, actually doubling,  its swab production because of an expansion into an empty building in Pittsfield.  The empty building is owned by Cianbro Brothers.  This expansion will permit the company to also hire over 100 people to work at the new facility in Pittsfield.  This increase in production may be the reason that the company’s very own state will be able to process its testing capability significantly.

Will Portland’s Tyson Foods be held to protective standards of its employees – such as temperature checks.  Where is the city council on this?  Voiceless.

Eighty percent of the PPE orders filled by the MaineCDC go to congregate house – such as nursing homes Dr. Shah said.

This daily briefing by Dr. Shah followed a message to the people of Maine addressing their anger and frustrations at a variety of issues.  Some people are frustrated cause the state is moving too slowly to open it up – such as the restaurant industry. Others don’t want people from away to come here and risk bringing the virus with them.

“With every action I take, I think about it long and hard,” the Governor said.  “There is no simple solution here.  The vast majority of business owners…share a commitment to keeping Maine people healthy.    We need more testing in this state,” she said, repeating a mantra of most Governors across the country.  “Our foe is complacency.”