Officials from the Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the agency is investigating multiple cases of COVID-19 at a Rockmart chicken processing plant.

The Northwest Georgia Public Health confirmed that an investigation of “multiple COVID-19 cases at Tip Top Poultry in Rockmart” is underway, but could not at this time report how many cases have been reported specifically from Tip Top employees.

The company could not confirm the number either, but did provide the following statement:

“While we do not provide any personal or detailed information about these matters, we can confirm that we have had more than one of our employees test positive for COVID-19. The data shows that these cases were from community transmission. However, we continue to work closely with the local health department to trace and notify anyone who may have come into contact with COVID-19 positive people. In addition, we continue to follow the CDC guidelines to transmission at work. We are committed to a safe and healthy workplace for all our employees.”

Reports of cases within Tip Top came from a community tip e-mailed into Polk.Today. The tip stated that “several confirmed cases” have been reported on all three shifts within the plant. Employees are being sent to get tested and then home if they are believed to be ill, the tipster added.

Additional information on the number of cases has been requested of the Georgia Department of Public Health. When and if available, this story will be updated to reflect those figures.

As of the last count, the COVID-19 figures for Polk County in total stood at 184 positives for the virus as of the Monday afternoon, June 22 report. That was an increase of seven new positives reported after a weekend that remained flat.