An employee with Specialty Foods Group LLC has tested positive for COVID-19, the company announced Wednesday.
SFG’s Human Resources department has been in contact with the affected team member to implement best-practice protocols. Following a medical evaluation, the employee will be in quarantine for 14 days.
When the case was confirmed, SFG also notified other employees of possible exposure and directed all team members known to have been in close contact with this individual to stay home and self-quarantine as well.
“Our immediate concern is for the health and welfare of this individual and the individual’s family,” SFG President Eric Sheiss said. “This news further heightens our respect and gratitude for all of our team members, as they continue supplying food to countless other Americans in this incredibly challenging and stressful time.”
In the meantime, the employee’s work area has been subject to a thorough, redundant cleaning and sanitization process. Other proactive safety measures taken by SFG include restrictive protocols for visitors; staggered breaks and start times; social distancing where possible; a heightened focus on both personal & facility hygiene; and implementation of new, COVID-specific medical leave policies.
Officials at the company will continue to work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Green River District Health Department to maximize protection of all its employees in light of this information.
Within the context of the Department of Homeland Security designating food and agriculture production as a critical infrastructure industry, SFG is tasked with the special responsibility of continuing to operate during times of national emergency. According to the CDC, there is no evidence of food-associated transmission of COVID-19.
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