SALINE COUNTY – As cases of Coronavirus rise in Nebraska, the counties that are seeing the fastest growth of COVID-19 cases, have major meat packing plants.
There's Hall County, that's Grand Island, has gone from 16 cases on April 1, to 899. Grand Island is home to JBS meat packing plant.
In Dakota County, in Northeast Nebraska, didn't see it's first case until April 12, now it has 608. Dakota County is home to a Tyson packing plant.
"These plants are ticking time bombs," Joe Enriquez Henry, with the League of United Latin American Citizens said.
Closer to Lincoln is a plant that's been the first in the state to close, despite having far fewer cases. Smithfield Foods, in Saline County, told employees Monday they'll close for two weeks.
Smithfield currently has 47 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
In an email to an employee, obtained by 10/11, Smithfield said they would close for at least two weeks. The email said during the closure employees will continue to get paid and receive benefits.
During the closure a small number of employees will stay on and implement sanitation and social distancing measures.
This closure, announced on the same day that Henry, with LULAC, visited Nebraska to speak with meat packing employees and encouraging companies to do a better job protecting employees.
"We have members of the community who are afraid, who don't know what to do," Henry said. "Who are feeling sick and are afraid they're not going to get paid sick leave, it's clear companies are prioritizing profit over people."
Henry said it's good that Smithfield has closed, as long as they use this time to take much needed steps.
He said all packing plants need to implement mandatory testing, to separate employees by feet instead of inches while working, to provide PPE and to slow down production so employees can work comfortably while wearing masks.
Henry said it's not necessary for every plant to close like Smithfield is, but it is important that all of them take more steps to keep people safe.
"We need to get in front of this because if we don't, the virus will make sure plants get shut down," Henry said.
10/11 NOW has reached out to Smithfield for comment on their closure, but they haven't responded at this time.
To learn more about LULAC's work visit their website: https://lulac.org/
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Smithfield Foods in Crete has decided to close down as COVID-19 cases continue to rise among workers at the plant.
According to an email sent to employees, the location will be shut down for at least two weeks.
The email said that during the shutdown sanitation practices will still be taking place requiring a small group of people to work.
As of Sunday, there were 47 positive tests of COVID-19 at Smithfield as testing was ramped up by both the Nebraska National Guard and Bryan Health.
Public Health Solutions said they are processing a very large number of test results.
Smithfield announced Friday they were temporarily closing their plant in Monmouth, IL due to COVID-19, and earlier closed facilities in South Dakota, Missouri, and Wisconsin
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April 28, 2020 at 04:23AM
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Smithfield in Crete to close down as COVID-19 cases rise among workers - 1011now
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