SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A South Dakota pork processing plant is taking its first steps toward reopening after a virus outbreak among workers that was one of the worst in the nation.
Smithfield Foods shuttered its Sioux Falls plant for over two weeks after more than 800 employees became infected.
Two departments at the plant reopened Monday.
Meat processing plants across the country are cautiously reopening after President Donald Trump’s executive order last week classified them as critical infrastructure.
Workers, farmers and meat-eaters alike are watching to see if new safety measures will be enough to prevent more outbreaks at the plants.
On Monday, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem said they have set up a mass testing event to make sure employees are COVID-19 negative before they go back to work.
“We facilitated it. Our National Guard did the work of setting it up. We are paying for the cost of the testing,” says Governor Kristi Noem.
The tents have been set up outside Washington High School. Long lines of cars have been reported at the site.
Noem says the free testing is to help facilitate the Smithfield Plant to become fully operational after two weeks of shutdown because of COVID-19. The Governor says the tests are optional. Smithfield workers don’t have to get one in order to qualify to go back to work.
