Pacific Seafood outbreak second largest in Oregon, officials say

Pacific Seafood, a processing plant in Newport, is the epicenter of an outbreak so large it contributed to Oregon's highest single day count of new cases since the start of the pandemic.

In a newport seafood facility caused an eruption of new coronavirus cases --- 120 just last week.

Kezi 9 news reporter emma jerome spoke with area public health officials about how they're containing these outbreaks and what this means moving forward lincoln county - an area which had seen low coronavirus cases is now home to the second largest outbreak in the state emma jerome: " outbreaks have popped up all over the state in the last few days... namely newport... with over 120 cases coming from the same plant... " "we learned overnight we became the second largest outbreak in the state of oregon" pacific seafood - a processing plant in newport- is the epicenter of the outbreak.

An outbreak so large it contributed to oregon's highest single day count of new cass since coronavirus touched down in the state back in january - pushing the county's testing abilities "we've never hit the max capacity of what we have -- this did which is why a private contractor was brought in by the company because he got it all done in one day" jason davis with lane county public health says this uptick in cases is due in part to increased contact tracing but he also says coronavirus hasn't gone anywehre jason davis "i do think this is a combination of expanded testing and then also covid still spreading at the rate that it always has."

So what can we do?

Well both counties press the same message we have been hearing since day one -- wear a mask -- keep your distance -- and mind your health.

Reporting in eugene emma jerome kezi 9 news the firestone pacific foods plant in vancouver, washington is now reopening...after an