STEELEVILLE (WSIL) -- In Randolph County, active cases of COVID-19 have more than tripled since last Friday with health officials confirming more than 70% of those cases stem from an outbreak at the Gilster-Mary Lee plant in Steeleville.
Gilster-Mary Lee Corporation vice president of technical sales Tom Welge said, a decision was made to close its Steeleville Mix Plant for two weeks after working closely with local and state health officials monitoring COVID-19 cases in the workforce.
"Yesterday, we made the decision to try to further separate the workforce for a period of time and allow for some additional disinfection and cleaning within the plant," said Welge, adding it was a difficult decision, one which included input from the Illinois Manufactures' Association, local hospitals and their own food safety experts. "Food safety and employee safety are ... our core guiding values, we just have to kind of work together to get through these really challenging times."
According to Welge, around a quarter of the staff is working until the full closure begins this weekend, and they will evaluate a phased-in restart of operations in two weeks.
The closure will mean a loss of traffic for local businesses, but Steeleville Marketplace owner Korey Bockhorn said it is the right decision.
"A negative impact for us short term, but the well-being of all the workers up there and stuff is the main thing," said Bockhorn. The grocery store is just blocks away from the plant and he said many of their customers work for Gilster-Mary Lee. They have increased their own safety measures in the wake of COVID-19, he said, adding "The health of the employees and all the citizens here in the county, that's the main priority."
According to the Randolph County Health Department, Gilster-Mary Lee is working with local health provider to screen all employees entering their facilities.
"We appreciate the cooperation from the different agencies we've been working with, we appreciate the dedication and understanding from our employees," said Welge. "As we've said many times, we all have to work together to get through, hopefully just a period of weeks until we can get to the other side of this."
The Health Department reported 100 active cases as of Wednesday with 95 of those remaining home under quarantine, while 5 are recovering in hospitals.
