By Beacon Staff
West Liberty Foods has reported eight positive cases of COVID-19 at its meatpacking plant in Mount Pleasant.
The company reported two of those cases Wednesday, May 20, then confirmed another six cases Friday, May 22.
West Liberty Food has been providing regular updates on the COVID-19 count in all its facilities via Facebook since the end of April. The company said anyone at the Mount Pleasant plant who is at an elevated risk has been notified.
Henry County currently has 57 cases of COVID-19, while Des Moines County has reported 56 cases.
A testing site for Des Moines County is opening Wednesday (May 27) at the county fairgrounds (on the Southeastern Community College campus). The entrance is on Gear Avenue. Appointments must be made in advance through www.testiowa.gov beginning Tuesday (May 26).
Saturday marked the second time in three days that Iowa has recorded a daily high in deaths due to COVID-19.
The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 26 more deaths Saturday, topping Thursday’s previous high by five.
The state’s total coronavirus death count climbed to 90 for the week and now sits at 447.