SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Advocates from Sioux Falls’ Latino communities are speaking out against Smithfield Foods’ handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nancy Reynosa is the founder and director of Que Pasa Sioux Falls, one of the organizations behind a drive-by protest Thursday evening. She said her organization had heard from workers describing unsafe conditions at the plant.
“Employees are calling to tell us that they’re letting them work with a temperature of 100.3,” Reynosa said. “They’re not taking into consideration the space between employees. They’re still gathered together.”
Smithfield is one of Sioux Falls’ largest employers, and many of its workers are Latino. The plant received a “hot spot” designation from state officials tracking the spread of COVID-19. South Dakota Secretary of Health Kim Malsam-Rysdon said Wednesday at least 80 cases of COVID-19 stemmed from the plant.
Smithfield announced Thursday they would close the plant for three days starting on Saturday for cleaning. Reynosa said the closure will be too late.
“Three days is not enough. Three days should have been done the first day they had a case,” Reynosa said.
A statement on Smithfield’s website said the company is taking several measures to slow the virus’ spread, including extra hand sanitizing stations and restricting nonessential visitors. The company also stressed their importance as an essential food supplier during the pandemic.
Gov. Kristi Noem said she appreciated Smithfield’s “commitment to doing the right things” at her daily briefing Thursday. She said the state government will continue to work with Smithfield during the crisis.
Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken has also been in touch with Smithfield about the outbreak. The mayor said at a briefing he was “pretty fired up” at the start of a recent call with plant leadership, but felt better after the call.
(KELO.com News’s Todd Epp and Mark Russo contributed to this report.)
