Tyson Foods Releases Covid-19 Test Results at Northwest Arkansas Facilities

Almost 95% of individuals who tested positive showed no symptoms and would have remained unidentified without Tyson's extensive testing. Tyson is undertaking educational outreach initiatives related to COVID-19 to ensure the safety of its team members and the communities they live in. SPRINGDALE, Ark. – June 19 – Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) today revealed the results of comprehensive COVID-19 testing at its Benton and Washington Counties locations. Here, nearly 95% of team members who tested positive for the virus were symptomless and would have otherwise remained unidentified. Tyson has implemented numerous protective measures in cooperation with local health and government officials that meet or surpass CDC and OSHA guidelines for preventing COVID-19 at its facilities. The company is also engaging in community outreach efforts to educate team members about the risks associated with COVID-19, ensuring their safety at work and at home. These initiatives demonstrate Tyson's commitment to helping its team members and the communities it serves better understand the coronavirus and the steps that can be taken to prevent its spread. Tyson is the sole meat-processing company to carry out extensive COVID-19 testing of its employees in Northwest Arkansas. Starting in early June, the company conducted onsite testing at various facilities. Out of the 3,748 team members who were tested onsite, 481 or 13% tested positive – of whom 455 or nearly 95% were symptomless – with significant variations in the percentage of positive cases at these facilities. This is in addition to 212 positive cases among team members identified by the Department of Health or when seeking care through their own health care providers. As of June 19, Benton and Washington Counties have reported a 6% and 18% positive rate among individuals tested, respectively. Greg Hines, Mayor of Rogers, praised Tyson for not only protecting the health of their employees but also contributing to the well-being of entire communities. He expressed his admiration for Tyson's proactive testing and the protective measures they have implemented to create a safe workplace. Tom Brower, Senior Vice President of Health and Safety for Tyson Foods, emphasized the importance of large-scale testing in identifying asymptomatic cases, which is beneficial for the community as other testing is often limited to people who feel unwell. Tyson, based in Arkansas since 1935, employs 24,500 team members in the state. The Northwest Arkansas locations where testing took place are among more than 40 production facilities in the U.S. where Tyson is introducing advanced testing capabilities to team members in partnership with Matrix Medical and other partners. Axiom Medical is also tracking the symptoms of team members who test positive and providing additional care at select facilities. The protective measures include symptom screenings for all team members before every shift, providing mandatory protective face masks to all team members, as well as a range of social distancing measures. Tyson has also doubled its “thank you” bonus for its frontline workers. Team members who cannot come to work because of illness or childcare issues related to COVID-19 will continue to qualify. About Tyson Foods Tyson Foods, Inc. is one of the world’s largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under three generations of family leadership, the company has a broad portfolio of products and brands. Tyson Foods innovates continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere it’s available and raise the world’s expectations for how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company has 141,000 team members. Through its Core Values, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, communities and team members and serve as a steward of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it. Visit TYSONFOODS.COM. Media Contact: DEREK BURLESON, 479-290-6466