Smithfield Suspends Operations at South Kansas City Warehouse

Smithfield Foods announced the indefinite closure of its warehouse in south Kansas City, amid concerns about the spread of coronavirus at their facilities. The company announced yesterday (Wednesday) that it would close its facility in Martin City, just east of the state line. The warehouse receives raw materials from Smithfield’s pork processing facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, which has seen over 600 cases among its employees or people connected to them. Smithfield also announced the suspension of operations at its dry sausage and bacon plant in Wisconsin for at least two weeks. Smithfield says a small number of employees at both plants have tested positive for COVID-19. The company says employees will be paid for the next two weeks during which time essential personnel will repeat the rigorous deep cleaning and sanitization that have been ongoing at the facilities.