Governor Kim Reynolds announced that nearly half of the new COVID-19 cases confirmed in the state on Tuesday were tied to an outbreak at the Tyson Foods plant in Columbus Junction. Of the state’s 189 new cases, 86 were related to the Tyson outbreak.

Last week, CEO of Tyson Foods Noel White said the plant would be closed for one week after more than two dozen cases of the virus involved team members at the facility. Communications Manager Liz Croston tells KCII News that the suspension of operations at the plant have been extended another week and employees will be paid while they are away. The livestock scheduled to go to the Louisa County plant is being diverted to other pork plants in the region.

White added that measures are being taken to increase safety with staff taking the temperature of workers at all locations before they enter facilities and efforts to deep clean and sanitize have increased. In addition, the company is promoting more social distancing, installing dividers between workstations, and working to secure personal protective equipment for employees including face coverings.