April 15, 2020
Shortly after a rash of COVID-19 cases occurred at its facility, the Smithfield Foods company announced the closure of its Sioux Falls plant until further notice. The announcement took place on Sunday, one day after the company received a letter from Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, urging the closure of the plant for 14 days so that it could be cleaned. In response, Smithfield, which had originally closed the facility for three days for cleaning, stated that the plant will now be closed indefinitely. The facility will be cleaned thoroughly, according to representatives, and will reopen when it is deemed safe to do so by the authorities.
The decision comes after the plant became a center of COVID outbreaks in South Dakota; of the 730 diagnosed cases in the state thus far, 293 have been Smithfield employees. While the company has expressed its commitment to the health of its workers and the sanitation of its facilities, Smithfield representatives have expressed concern about disruption to the distribution chain.
Source: 2020, 12 April. Smithfield closes South Dakota pork plant due to coronavirus. Associated Press.