March 4, 2021

Nursing Facilities, Food Manufacturing Plants and COVID-19 Cases and Deaths

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Public Health Policy and Practice

Keywords (Tags): congregate settings

• A higher number of meatpacking plants and bakeries within a hospital reference region (HRR) or a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) was associated with a higher number of COVID-19 related deaths in the US through May 2020. After adjusting for demographics and socioeconomic characteristics, an additional plant within an HRR and MSA was associated with 21% and 16% more cases, respectively, and 7% more deaths within an HRR. An additional bakery establishment was associated with 14% and 9% more cases, and 13% and 10% more deaths within an HRR and MSA, respectively. In contrast, the addition of a skilled nursing facility or retirement and assisted living facility within an HRR and MSA was not associated with higher cases and deaths.

Asher et al. (Feb 24, 2021). Nursing Facilities, Food Manufacturing Plants and COVID-19 Cases and Deaths. Economics Letters. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2021.109800