By Elizabeth Doran
Oneida, N.Y. — Testing of workers at a huge Madison County greenhouse operation found to be a hotspot for coronavirus is continuing with more positive cases expected, county officials said today.
Two workers have been hospitalized, county officials said at a news conference in Wampsville. They did not provide the workers’ conditions.
The New York State health department tested 186 workers at Green Empire Farms in the city of Oneida on Saturday, said Eric Faisst, Madison County’s health director. More workers are being tested today.
So far, 75 workers living in Madison County tested positive, and 64 tested positive in Oneida County, officials said. (The Oneida totals include workers who previously tested positive.)
The workers from Madison County are primarily housed in two hotels — The Super 8 in Oneida and the Days Inn in Canastota, county officials said. There are 49 positive cases in one hotel and 26 in the other, they said. The workers are being quarantined in the hotels.
Living in close quarters helped the virus spread, but it also has helped contain it because many of the cases are in the same location, Faisst said.
In Oneida County, it’s not known yet where the workers are being housed.
The workers do not live at the greenhouse facility, Faisst said.
The greenhouse facility, which grows and packages strawberries, tomatoes and cucumbers, is continuing to operate, said a spokesperson for Mastronardi Produce, the owners of the facility who are based in Kingsville, Canada. There are no plans to shut it down, she said.
There is no evidence the virus can spread on food, Faistt said.
The first round of testing conducted Saturday covered contract workers, the spokesperson said. The second round today will be offered to all employees of the greenhouse. Many of the workers have been hired through a third-party contractor.
The greenhouse at 1856 West Elm St., Oneida employs 300 people. Some are from the area, others from places within the U.S. and others from outside the U.S., the spokesperson said.
Madison County Supervisor John Becker said people need to be compassionate. The workers "are scared,'' he said.
The greenhouse has been taking steps at the greenhouse to contain the virus, according to the spokesperson. These include:
Conducting daily temperature and health screenings of workers.
Face covering, previously recommended, are required as of April 13.
Face shields for workers.
Significantly increased cleaning and sanitizing of the facility.
Social distancing of workers both in the greenhouse and on the buses to the operation.
The company stressed that the virus is not food-borne, and there is no risk to the produce.
The greenhouse facility sells produce to grocery stores in the Northeast and down the East Coast under the Sunset and Backyard Farms brands, according to papers filed with the county. Among the stores that carry its produce are Wegmans, Price Chopper, Tops and Walmart.
The $120 million greenhouse operation, which is being built in phases, sits on 260 acres in city of Oneida and the village of Wampsville, according to records filed with the county. When completed, it will have 110 acres under glass. A county official today said the project is nearly completed.
Article Obtained from: https://www.syracuse.com/coronavirus/2020/05/2-hospitalized-from-madison-county-hot-spot-139-cases-confirmed-testing-continues-at-huge-greenhouse.html
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