PLAINWELL, Mich. — Sixty employees from a beef production plant have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Allegan County Health Department (ACHD) says the cases stem from JBS Plainwell, where the virus was first confirmed on March 24, according to data from the Michigan Disease Surveillance System. Only 10 of the 60 cases are Allegan County residents, according to the county health department. The Kalamazoo County Health Department confirmed Tuesday that 41 of the cases are Kalamazoo residents.
ACHD conducted an on-site review of the company's social distancing, screening and environmental hygiene practices a week ago.
JBS USA has operations throughout the country, but the Plainwell location is the company's only Michigan facility. According to the JBS website, the Plainwell plant employs over 1,000 workers and has been operating for more than 95 years.
JBS has temporarily closed its Greeley Beef Facility in Colorado and indefinitely closed its Worthington Pork Facility in Minnesota to curb the spread of the virus.
JBS USA said in a statement that it has had employees test positive at some of its facilities.
"We are offering support to those team members and their families, and we hope they all make a full and speedy recovery. Out of respect for the families, we are not releasing further information," a statement from the company read.
JBS says it is has implemented temperature checks at every one of its U.S. facilities, and all employees are provided with and required to wear face masks on company property. Additionally, the company says no one is forced to come to work and there is no punishment for being absent for health reasons.
As of Monday, Allegan County has 42 confirmed coronavirus cases, according to state data.
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