US coronavirus hotspots linked to meat processing plants

• Analysis shows factories a source of virus transmission
• Workers and unions urge health and safety overhaul

Almost half the current Covid-19 hotspots in the US are linked to meat processing plants where poultry, pigs and cattle are slaughtered and packaged, which has led to the virus spiking in many small towns and prompted calls for urgent reforms to an industry beset by health and safety problems.

Related: 'Chaotic and crazy': meat plants around the world struggle to contain Covid-19 outbreaks