Thread by @CDDyVanc

Meanwhile, here in #Missouri:

Despite a major spike in active positive cases of #COVIDー19 in #AudrainCounty (from 22 to 46 on Friday, alone, in a county of ~25K), testing numbers **WILL NOT BE REPORTED AGAIN UNTIL MAY 26**, because of #MemorialDayWeekend.

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Also (per @MexLedgerCD): During this sudden uptick, Audrain Co.'s drive-thru testing site at St. Mary’s Hospital, in Mexico, Mo., "will be closed Monday in observance of #MemorialDay."

The next closest testing site is in Columbia — 40 MILES AWAY. bit.ly/2ZvGxxB

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The outbreak in question centers around #AnimalFeedingOperations in Paris, Mo. and Thompson, Mo., owned by @BrennemanPork, which is based in Washington, Iowa. brennemanpork.com

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Brenneman Pork employs a large number of individuals brought to the United States on TN #visas — work visas established by #NAFTA for individuals from Canada and Mexico: bit.ly/2WVChWo

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In the @MexicoLedger story, it's noted that individuals working in the Paris and Thompson facilities all "live in a mobile home court in a remote area of Audrain County".

Even if they "have individual bedrooms and are able to isolate and social distance", that's a problem.

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You see, Audrain Co. has pockets of very close-knit Hispanic/Latino communities. Brenneman Farms says employees were told to stay home if they are "feeling sick." Being someone whose family raised hogs until he was in grade school, I sure hope that's the case, because...

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...that kind of particulate matter (feces, dust, meal) would be devastating on Covid-compromised organs.

More to my point: Sparse periods of knowledge and testing, especially this early on, could RAVAGE these vulnerable populations

Three reasons, I'm thinking:

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1.) Spreading is a VERY real risk, here, among the symptomatic but also (and especially) among the asymptomatic.

If you aren't *feeling* sick, you'll still go to work. Your visa depends on your job.

You're going to run out of food eventually. The only two ways to get more?

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A.) Go to the store, or

B.) Have someone else bring it to you. (Most likely: another member of the community.)

Like I said, these communities—tied by culture, language, and shared struggle through life in mid-Missouri—look out for each other. Not updating folks of the...

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...severity of the spread this early on puts them right in the line of fire.

2.) If these communities can't test in Mexico, they're going to go to Columbia, which is a hub for other mid-Mo areas. If there's 1 asymptomatic person who touches a pump at the BreakTime, well...

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3.) Finally (as we've said), it's #MemorialDayWeekend. Folks are statistically bound to travel, meet in large groups, and a go to the store more during a long work weekend. If there are more positive active cases, the health department should WANT to let people know that...

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All I'm saying is that for once, it'd be nice if #Missouri would be proactive & empathetic in approaching its Hispanic/Latino communities, and not attempt to sweep their issues under the rug until a nicer headline can hit the front page.

This just feels like more of the latter.

To clarify: Making folks drive 40 MILES to get tested for #COVIDー19 is a BARRIER. Some folks won't go get tested because of that.

And refusing to have even 1 person sacrifice a portion of their holiday to post data *DURING A LOCALIZED PANDEMIC OUTBREAK* is A SHITTY EXCUSE.

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