RANDERS, DENMARK – Danish Crown, the largest pork processor in Europe, announced on July 29 that at least 13 workers have tested positive for COVID-19 following an outbreak at its Ringsted facility.

After finding the positive cases, the company temporarily closed the department and tested 80 employees. The employees must be tested in two rounds and test negative twice before returning to work.

Danish Crown notified health authorities and set up a mobile testing center outside the meat processing facility after the discovery.

“We are in a serious situation where we have full focus on the safety of employees and on breaking the chains of infection,” said Per Laursen, production director at Danish Crown. “When and how much to test will be controlled by the authorities from here, so we ensure that the effort is as effective as possible.”

The company said most of the newly infected employees have not been in the facility since July 24. Danish Crown agreed to have the Danish Agency for Patient Safety at the facility starting on July 27.

“It is really reassuring for us to experience how the Danish authorities are ready to help us in this situation,” Laursen said. “There has been a quick response regardless of who we have contacted, and it is our hope that through a joint effort we can succeed in limiting the outbreak.”

Around 900 people work at the facility. According to Danish Crown, the Ringsted facility is operating at half capacity until further notice.