SPRINGDALE, ARK. – Eight employees at a Tyson Foods Inc. steak-cutting facility in Chicago tested positive for the coronavirus, the company said. Most of the affected workers showed no symptoms.

Tyson said 240 individuals who work at the facility were tested on-site May 27. The new cases are in addition to 23 positive cases identified since April among team members tested by the Department of Health or when seeking care through their own health care providers, the company said. Employees who test positive receive paid leave during the required quarantine period and may return to work only when they have met the criteria established by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Tyson Foods.

“At Tyson, our top priority is ensuring the health and safety of our team members, their families and the communities in which they live and work,” said Tom Brower, senior vice president of Health and Safety for Tyson Foods. “We are using the most up-to-date data and resources to support our team members and are committed to making sure they feel safe and secure when they come into work.”

The Chicago facility is among more than 40 production facilities in the United States where Tyson is conducting advanced testing and providing enhanced care options onsite in partnership with Matrix Medical Network of Scottsdale, Ariz., a medical clinical services company, and other partners. Employees at the Chicago facility have access to daily clinical screenings, nurse practitioners and enhanced education. Woodlands, Texas-based Axiom Medical, a health care case management provider, tracks the symptoms of employees who test positive and provide additional care.

“Our team members are essential to helping feed the nation, and their health and safety come first,” said Leon Bhairoo, plant manager for Tyson in Chicago. “Disclosing our testing results is another step we are taking to better protect our team members and the Chicago community.”