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The first cases of coronavirus were confirmed in South Dakota on March 10. Here’s how the virus has spread since.
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Federal health officials hope to take the first steps toward getting a Sioux Falls pork processing plant and coronavirus hot spot back up and running.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has staff in Sioux Falls today touring the Smithfield Foods, Inc. plant. They are assessing conditions and developing an action plan needed to safely reopen the hog harvesting facility that’s been shut down for nearly a week, according to Gov. Kristi Noem’s office.
“Next steps of the plan are contingent on feedback from the CDC’s efforts today,” the governor’s communications director Ian Fury told the Argus Leader Thursday morning.
Gov. Kristi Noem said Thursday that the state expects to have a report from the CDC in the coming days, and that will be released to the public. The governor also said she’s been in close contact with the plant’s CEO as well as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.
“We’re working closely with the plant to make sure it’s an environment that’s safe for employees,” Noem said.
Joining the CDC during the assessment, which began at 9 a.m., are officials with the city and state health departments.
Smithfield Foods did not grant a request by the Argus Leader to join the tour, saying non-essential visitors are barred from entering the Sioux Falls plant during the shutdown.
‘I lost him because of that horrible place’: Smithfield worker dies from COVID-19
“As it relates to walking through the plant, all Smithfield facilities and farms operate under strict biosecurity, which currently restricts all non-essential visitors as part of the extensive safety measures in place at all its locations across the country,” according to a statement from Smithfield’s public relations department.
Coronavirus cases at Smithfield plant
Nearly 600 Smithfield employees in Sioux Falls have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic started, with an additional 135 confirmed cases tied directly to the plant. That prompted the company last week to announce a three-day closure to clean the plant. However, after cases continued to surge there, Noem and Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken Saturday called for the plant to be shut down for 14 days.
The following day, Smithfield said it was closing the plant indefinitely.
That’s caused worry among public officials as well as farmers and food consumers as the closure will choke the nation’s meat supply.
Coronavirus outbreak at Smithfield Foods: Here’s what we know
Perdue Wednesday took to social media to say he is in contact with the governor and assisting in getting the Smithfield plant operational as quickly as possible.
In a statement Thursday, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the secretary understands the critical nature of maintaining the country’s food supply chain while also ensuring the safety of employees and food inspectors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“He also applauds the true commitment and patriotism our food supply chain workers have shown during this time and the work they continue to do day in and day out,” the statement read. “USDA recognizes and supports the efforts of private industry and companies to maintain operational status of their facilities while also maintaining the safety and health of their work force. USDA, together with the FDA and CDC, will continue to support a whole of America approach to ensure the food supply chain remains safe and secure.”
‘We’ve totally disrupted our food chain.’ Farmers face impacts of Smithfield closure
South Dakota’s Congressional delegation and 28 other U.S. Senators and Representatives from agricultural states called on Perdue Thursday to “take immediate action” to provide financial and technical assistance to American pork producers in the event Smithfield and other meat plants around the country remain closed beyond
In the the letter, which Sen. John Thune and Rep. Dusty Johnson led efforts to craft, the members of Congress said they’re hopeful the nation’s food supply chain can be restored quickly, but farmers need assurance that if it isn’t, they will be supported.
“However, in the event that producers are unable to schedule harvest of their hogs, we request that you consider how to use your existing authorities and available funds to compensate producers for losses,” read the letter.
The letter follows the closure of the Smithfield processing plant in Sioux Falls as well as Smithfield’s plant in Martin City, Missouri, which receives raw materials from the South Dakota facility.
As of Thursday, 598 Smithfield employees were confirmed to have caught the virus, along with 135 of their contacts in Minnehaha County. Those individuals make up nearly 70% of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Minnehaha County.
Mayor: ‘Do not vilify’ Smithfield employees
While the city’s role in the tour and assessment of the plant is mostly peripheral, Dr. Jennifer Tinguely, the chief medical officer with the Sioux Falls Department of Health, participated in the CDC’s walk-through Thursday.
Mayor TenHaken has repeatedly said his office will provide whatever assistance it can to help re-open the plant, and Thursday morning he urged residents not to “vilify” Smithfield or its employees as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak or let it impact how they are regarded in Sioux Falls.
“Smithfield is not an enemy in this, and the employees of Smithfield are not enemies in this,” he said. “There’s (an) underlying issue of almost treating Smithfield employees like lepers in our community right now, and that’s not appropriate.”
TenHaken said employees continue to get tested and those with the virus are quarantining.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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CDC assessing plan to get Smithfield plant in Sioux Falls reopened after coronavirus outbreak
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