PLAINWELL, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – A southeast Allegan County meatpacking plant remains open after 86 employees tested positive for COVID-19 with one fatality.
The JBS facility in Plainwell is one of a number that the processor was forced to shut down in Colorado, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin because of the number of workers who have come down with the coronavirus. US House Representative Fred Upton of St. Joseph planned to chat with company officials on Tuesday morning to see what preventative measures have been put into place.
“They’ve installed the plexiglass shield, issued masks, and warned people about social distancing.” the Republican lawmaker told “WHTC Morning News” during his weekly interview on Tuesday. “They’ve got to take the steps to make sure that the workplace is safe and ultimately operational.”
The Allegan County Health Department says that, even with 26 new cases in the past week, the number of infections appeared to be on the downside of the peak at that plant.