KOIN.com

77 workers at Oregon seafood plant test positive for virus

FILE - In this July 23, 2020 file photo, health care workers prepare a COVID-19 test sample before a person self-administered a test at the COVID-19 drive-thru testing center at Miami-Dade County Auditorium in Miami. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP)

WARRENTON, Ore. (AP) — County officials say 77 workers at a seafood processing plant on the Oregon coast have tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Astorian reports Pacific Seafood used a private lab earlier this week to test the plant’s 159 night-shift workers.

Clatsop County officials say the Oregon Health Authority is taking the lead in arranging for quarantine of the affected individuals and conducting contact tracing.

The Clackamas, Oregon-based company had one of the largest workplace outbreaks in the state in June with 187 cases tied to its Newport plants.

A Pacific Seafood spokesperson said Thursday the company is partnering with the state to respond to the cases that he said have been tied to “Labor Day social activities.”