News outlets pointed to meatpacking plants and nursing homes as viral hotspots during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. In contrast to news reports, we find that retirement communities and assisted living facilities were associated with fewer cases and deaths and that skilled nursing facilities were associated with fewer cases. We did find that meatpacking plants were associated with more cases and deaths but bakeries were also associated with more cases and deaths, while dairy plants were associated with fewer cases and deaths. Proactive implementation of policy measures in nursing homes and retirement facilities were beneficial. Analogous guidance was lacking for food manufacturing establishments, potentially exacerbating the spread of the virus.
Nursing facilities, food manufacturing plants and COVID-19 cases and deaths