PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) — Gov. Kristi Noem spoke with Smithfield packing plant workers yesterday evening and this morning about their concerns of the plant’s reopening Monday.
Secretary of Health Kim Malsam-Rysdon was also on the calls.
The workers, according to the Governor’s office, asked a variety of questions about health concerns and what resources are available to them.
Lutheran Social Services helped facilitate questions in Spanish, Swahili, Oromo, Amharic, Kunama, Nepali, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese.
Below is a statement from the Governor’s press secretary, Ian Fury.
“Governor Noem had two calls with Smithfield employees: one last night at 6pm CT and another this morning at 10am CT. Our office called every employee at Smithfield’s Sioux Falls plant, and the Governor and Secretary of Health were on the phone with them for nearly two hours in total.”
“Questions largely mirrored what we’re asked by the media each day – if they’ve tested positive but they have no symptoms; when can they return to work; if they’ve already recovered; can they get the virus a second time; what resources are available to them; how can they stay up-to-date on information; etc.”
“We want to thank Smithfield employees for participating and for the very thoughtful discussions.”
“We also want to thank Lutheran Social Services (LSS) for their tremendous help providing interpreters for both of these calls. The team at LSS helped facilitate questions in Spanish, Swahili, Oromo, Amharic, Kunama, Nepali, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese.”
