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Meat and poultry processing facilities face distinctive challenges in the control of infectious diseases, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (1). COVID-19 outbreaks among meat and poultry processing facility workers can rapidly affect large numbers of persons. Assessment of COVID-19 cases among workers in 115 meat and poultry processing facilities through April 27, 2020, documented 4,913 cases and 20 deaths reported by 19 states (1). This report provides updated aggregate data from states regarding the number of meat and poultry processing facilities affected by COVID-19, the number and demographic characteristics of affected workers, and the number of COVID-19-associated deaths among workers, as well as descriptions of interventions and prevention efforts at these facilities. Aggregate data on confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths among workers identified and reported through May 31, 2020, were obtained from 239 affected facilities (those with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 case in one or more workers) in 23 states.* COVID-19 was confirmed in 16,233 workers, including 86 COVID-19-related deaths. Among 14 states reporting the total number of workers in affected meat and poultry processing facilities (112,616), COVID-19 was diagnosed in 9.1% of workers. Among 9,919 (61%) cases in 21 states with reported race/ethnicity, 87% occurred among racial and ethnic minority workers. Commonly reported interventions and prevention efforts at facilities included implementing worker temperature or symptom screening and COVID-19 education, mandating face coverings, adding hand hygiene stations, and adding physical barriers between workers. Targeted workplace interventions and prevention efforts that are appropriately tailored to the groups most affected by COVID-19 are critical to reducing both COVID-19-associated occupational risk and health disparities among vulnerable populations. Implementation of these interventions and prevention efforts† across meat and poultry pro

Hardwood species are valuable biological resources that have an important role in the economy and ecology of ecosystems worldwide. Non-zygotic or somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a powerful tool in plant biotechnology as it is a form of clonal propagation, amenable to cryopreservation of valuable germplasm and genetic transformation including gene editing. The SE process involves five steps and includes somatic embryo induction, proliferation, maturation, plantlet conversion, and subsequent plant acclimatization. This review aims to provide a general overview of these steps in different SE systems developed for hardwood species. Factors that influence the induction stage such as the age of the donor plant, genotype and culture media are discussed. The role of different explant types, i.e. zygotic embryos and non-zygotic tissues, such as roots, flower tissues, nodes, internodes, leaves or shoot apices, in SE induction are especially emphasized. Histological studies of the origin of somatic embryos and the sequence of events leading to their development from initial explants are assessed. Maintenance of embryogenic capacity carried out by subculture of embryogenic inocula on semisolid or liquid media through cell suspension cultures or by temporary immersion systems is described. At present, the main concerns associated with the application of SE for large-scale propagation of elite hardwoods are related to the embryo maturation, germination, and plantlet conversion steps, and these are highlighted in this review. Finally, molecular aspects associated with somatic embryo induction and development are also described. Attempts to overcome the hurdles identified in the embryogenic process, and future lines of research are proposed.