CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N.Y. (WKBW) — Chautauqua County health officials are monitoring a COVID-19 outbreak at a food manufacturing facility in Dunkirk.
According to Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel, Fieldbrook Foods Inc. is associated with 21 of the 31 current active COVID-19 cases in the county.
“We received the first positive COVID-19 test result related to Fieldbrook Foods on August 16th,” said Christine Schuyler, Public Health Director. “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 Foods issued this statement:
"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."
Watch the full press conference below:
