USDA inspector dies after test shows COVID- 19

A U. S. Department of Agriculture inspector tasked with ensuring food safety at meatpacking plants died Thursday after testing positive for COVID- 19, a source who was on a call in which the federal agency confirmed the death told USA TODAY.

It is the latest in a growing wave of coronavirus cases stemming from the meatpacking industry.

As of Thursday, there are more than 2,700 reported positive cases tied to meatpacking facilities at 60 plants in 23 states, and at least 17 reported worker deaths at eight plants in eight states, according to the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting, which is partnering with USA TODAY to cover agribusiness. The employee’s identity has not been released. The employee worked in a Chicago district office of the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service, Tim Kauffman, a spokesman for the American Federation of Government Employees union, told USA TODAY.

The safety of inspectors, and the USDA’s efforts to protect them, has recently come into question. Such inspectors are often embedded in meatpacking facilities, standing in close proximity with workers as they examine carcasses to ensure food safety. — Kyle Bagenstose, Grace Hauk and Sky Chadde

Cuomo slams McConnell’s bankruptcy remark

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s comment suggesting the federal government decline to bail out states facing bankruptcy was “one of the really dumb ideas of all time,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. McConnell was referencing pleas from state and local governments to secure federal funding for their coronavirus responses.

“You want to see that market fall through the cellar?” Cuomo continued. “Let New York State declare bankruptcy. … You will see a collapse of this national economy, just dumb.” – Lorenzo Reyes

Fauci, Trump clash over ‘ second wave’

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, appeared to contradict President Donald Trump’s notion that the coronavirus may not reappear in the fall. Trump, at a White House briefing Wednesday, downplayed a warning from the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that a second wave of the coronavirus outbreak could create more challenges than the current situation because it would come at the opening of flu season.

“It may not come back at all,” Trump said. “He’s talking about a worst- case scenario.”

Fauci countered with a less optimistic view: “We will have coronavirus in the fall. I am convinced of that because of the degree of transmissibility that it has, the global nature.” – Savannah Behrmann

Ramadan traditions challenged by virus

Islam’s holiest month begins Friday, but social distancing concerns could alter Ramadan traditions for the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims. The month normally features daytime fasting, overnight festivity and communal prayer. Keeping the faithful healthy during the month poses a whole new challenge these days. The virus has already disrupted Christianity’s Holy Week, Passover, the Muslim hajj pilgrimage and other major religious events.

“Ramadan is coming, and people have nothing to eat,” said Afghan daily laborer Hamayoon, who goes by only one name. “The government must have some mercy on us and allow people to work at least half a day to be able to feed themselves.” Contributing: John Bacon, USA TODAY; The Associated Press