Three cases of the novel coronavirus have been identified among workers at the Kraft Foods manufacturing plant and warehouse in Springfield, MO, local news organizations reported this week. The news comes about two months after two other employees tested positive for COVID-19 and the company temporarily closed the facility for deep cleaning. 

“All three employees are in self-quarantine at home with full pay,” Michael Mullen, senior vice president of corporate affairs for the Kraft Heinz Company, said in a statement to the Ozarks Independent. “We have taken all necessary steps to identify and notify individuals who worked closely with these employees.”

The company told KY3 that it has implemented a range of safety procedures to lower the risk of COVID-19 transmission among workers, including disinfecting and sanitizing all touch points, providing face masks to all manufacturing workers, and conducting temperature checks of all workers prior to entering the facility. 

“As always, the health and safety of our employees is our top priority,” Mullen said in the news broadcaster’s coverage. “From the beginning of this outbreak, we asked ANY employee who feels unwell to stay home and seek medical assistance and ask that they monitor their own health each day for potential COVID-19 symptoms.”

Kraft closed the Springfield facility in March for a two-day period of deep cleaning after two staff members became infected with the virus. 

The facility in Springfield produces Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and the Kraft and Cracker Barrel brands of natural cheese, according to a 2015 article by the Springfield News-Leader. In 2014, the site employed about 925 workers.

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