National Guard to test workers at Birds Eye plant in Darien; roughly 100 diagnosed with COVID-19

DARIEN -- The Wisconsin National Guard will conduct COVID-19 testing at the Birds Eye plant in Darien, a spokesman with the Walworth County Department of Health & Human Services. This, after Conagra Foods officials said operations were suspended at the facility as of April 17, with approximately 100 employees diagnosed with COVID-19 as of April 27.

The Walworth County Department of Health & Human Services' Emergency Operations Center requested National Guard assistance in setting up on-site testing at Birds Eye.

The National Guard will conduct testing on May 7 and 8 -- testing employees, family members and household members.

"The state has been working very hard to increase the testing capacity across the state," said Joe Trovato with the Wisconsin National Guard. "This is one way the National Guard can be of assistance."

Trovato also issued this statement Monday:

A Conagra Foods company representative issued this statement to FOX6 News on Sunday, May 3:

CLICK HERE for more information on Conagra Brands’ Response to COVID-19.

Below is COVID-19 data out of Walworth County as of May 1:

In Milwaukee, Palermo's Pizza plant shut down Friday, May 1 after five employees were confirmed positive.

Over the weekend, the National Guard helped test workers. Those who test negative will soon be able to return to work.

"The faster we can get in, and doing the testing, the more we can identify the individuals who need to be isolated," said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. "As uncomfortable as this is, I'm sure for everybody, I think it's really, in some ways, the way that this can be done, and done correctly."