German Abattoir Scandal Puts Cooling Systems Under COVID Spotlight

A truck carrying pigs arrives at the Toennies meat factory after its reopening in Rheda-Wiedenbrueck, Germany, on July 16, 2020. Germany's largest pork meat factory had to be shut down because of the recent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak among its employees. Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

BERLIN—A COVID-19 outbreak in Germany is forcing meatpacking plants to review infection risks posed by their cooling systems, placing the industry at the sharp end of growing global concerns over airborne transmission of the coronavirus.

Toennies, a slaughterhouse and meat producer, shut down one of its plants in western Germany in June after more than 1,500 workers were found to be infected with the virus.