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The top meat industry lobby group used my data on Covid-19 cases in the meatpacking sector to criticize OSHA’s $13,000 fine of Smithfield Foods, because worker cases are “trending down compared with cases nationwide.”
There are a few issues with how the data is presented. (1/) https://twitter.com/MeatInstitute/status/1304412124492554241
There are a few issues with how the data is presented. (1/) https://twitter.com/MeatInstitute/status/1304412124492554241
First of all, public health departments are reporting cases of Covid-19 in the general population, so we have a much clearer picture of trends. I’ve written about how they’re generally not reporting cases among food system workers: https://thefern.org/ag_insider/few-states-release-data-about-covid-19-in-the-food-system/
So a chart like this, that overlays national and sector-specific trend lines, is comparing very different data sources. (It also makes a fatal data viz error: two different Y axes.)
Another issue is here, where they appear to have created a chart of cases per week based on my chart of cases by day. These arrow captions, which ascribe meaning to holiday weekends, are completely erroneous. I’ll explain.
In order for my charts to pick up on broader population trends, like cases spiking over holiday weekends, I would need to have detailed data from public health departments tracking cases by employer, by week and day. How I wish! But, as I’ve reported, that data isn’t available.
There are other explanations for these peaks and valleys. The week of Memorial Day, Iowa reported a massive outbreak at Tyson's Storm Lake facility. ( https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/idph-confirms-outbreak-at-tyson-foods-plant-in-storm-lake) Also, the Star Tribune reported several new and updated outbreaks in Minnesota. ( https://www.startribune.com/long-prairie-packing-latest-minnesota-meatpacking-plant-to-have-covid-19-outbreak/570845702/?refresh=true)
The week after the 4th of July, the CDC released its second MMWR, which included a bunch of new information on outbreaks and cases. I remember distinctly: it was my birthday. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6927e2.htm?s_cid=mm6927e2_e&deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM32454
And to preempt any concern about Labor Day, the jump in reported cases on September 9 is in part because Kansas began releasing information on meatpacking outbreaks by company that day.
https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas
https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas
I point this all out because there have been many attempts to sidestep implicating meatpacking companies in the spread of the virus by shifting the blame to workers. Pointing out holiday weekends seems in line with that trend. https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2020-05-08/some-blame-meatpacking-workers-not-plants-for-virus-spread
The question of whether Covid-19 cases in the food system are declining is essential. I am also asking the data that question. But as I’ve reported, there are major public and private barriers to getting a comprehensive data set, and with it, a clear view of the trends.
And the biggest meat companies, all NAMI members, have stood in the way of that clear view, in part by declining to share case data with reporters and even members of Congress. ( https://thefern.org/ag_insider/covid-19-cases-appear-to-be-slowing-at-meat-plants-but-companies-arent-releasing-test-results/)
Ah, shoot, I just realized I totally abandoned numbering this thread after the first tweet. Alas. The thread is now done.
