First reported in December, there are now just over 297,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, Covid-19, worldwide as of midday Saturday — including more than 22,177 cases in the U.S., according to data collected by John Hopkins University.
Since the highly-infectious respiratory illness was declared a worldwide pandemic on March 11, U.S. federal and state officials have made moves to limit its spread, including closing down schools, restaurants and bars, cancelling large events and encouraging people to practice “social distancing” by keeping at least 6-feet away from others.
The Midwest Center is reporting on the pandemic’s impact in rural areas and in farm country.
This diary will be updated throughout the outbreak of Covid-19 with personal observations and short news updates from the Midwest Center staff.
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March 21, 2020
While some government inspections continue, others suspended
Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration announced it was suspending inspections, partly over concerns about its employees’ “health and well-being.”
For-cause inspections would only proceed if they were “mission-critical,” according to an FDA statement. “We will continue to respond to natural disasters, outbreaks and other public health emergencies involving FDA-regulated products,” the statement reads.
Another government inspection service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, will continue to operate as usual, however.
“Meat, poultry, and processed egg inspection services continue as normal,” the USDA said in a statement.
Even before the Covid-19 outbreak, these inspectors had tough jobs, as our investigation from late last year showed.
They face heavy workloads and burnout: one inspector, 8 months pregnant, was required to inspect twice the amount of facilities as normal because of staff shortages, the investigation found.
We asked the USDA how they planned to keep its inspectors safe during the outbreak, and here’s what they had to say, in full:
“We are working closely with federal, state and local authorities to protect the health and well-being of our personnel and will determine their personal level of risk based on their community and travel history. Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses, meaning they are one of the easiest types of viruses to kill with the appropriate disinfectant products. The same sanitary procedures that establishments are already required to follow every day to prevent foodborne pathogens will also help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19.” – Sky Chadde, Gannett Ag Data Fellow
March 20, 2020
With the number of confirmed cases growing to more than 585, Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker ordered Illinois residents to stay home until April 7, at least for now, as a way to slow the spread of the virus. Illinois was among three states to do so today, including California and New York. All total, one in five Americans are now mandated to ‘shelter in place’.
Grocery store shortages
Grocery stores have been hit with shortages after hoarding of certain items deemed essential to self-isolating at home. Now, it seems, stores have had enough.
At the Schnucks in Champaign, Illinois, signs were posted telling customers to limit their purchases of wet wipes and toilet paper.
And Lowe’s in Danville, Illinois, posted signs saying some items had a limit of 10 per customer.
— Sky Chadde, Gannett Ag Data Fellow
Illinois Farm Bureau encourages farmers, ag business be considered essential business
The Illinois Farm Bureau announced it is seeking for farmers to be qualified as essential personnel following a shelter in place order from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
The order requires all Illinois residents to shelter in their place of residence except to fulfill vital and essential business in an attempt to quell the spread of COVID-19.
Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert, Jr. said in the statement that the organization is working with the Illinois Department of Agriculture to ensure production agriculture will be considered an essential industry.
“Based on conversations with acting Director (Jerry)Costello, we anticipate production agriculture will be defined as an essential business. This includes ag suppliers, fuel providers, processing and distribution of ag outputs as well as other businesses that support or provide supplies necessary for farmers to operate,” according to the statement.
The Illinois Farm Bureau said they recognize the importance of precautions regarding COVID-19, but the organization wants to ensure farmers and agri-businesses can operate and provide food and fuel consumers.
“We will be able to put a crop in the ground and care for our animals,” according to Guebert in the statement.
—Claire Hettinger, Illinois Humanities Engagement Fellow
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