DOVER, Del.- Kraft Heinz on Monday said on Monday that an employee at its manufacturing plant in Dover is hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19.
Kraft Heinz spokesman Matt Mullen said in a statement that the employee was in stable condition and last in the factory on April 17.
"In addition to our regular cleaning process, the plant has continued our enhanced cleaning of all production and non-production areas of the plant, with special focus in the areas where this employee works and takes breaks," he said.
Mullen said the Dover factory has taken protective measures to protect workers and Kraft Heinz has supplied face masks to its facilities. He said workers are also having their temperature taken before they come into the facility, a measure aimed at checking for a symptom doctors say is one of the telltale signs of COVID-19.
The plant remains open and operational.
"We encourage any employee who feels unwell to take every precaution and seek medical assistance," Mullen said. "We’ll continue to monitor this rapidly evolving situation and will update all employees as appropriate. As always, the health and safety of our employees is our top priority.”
The development at Kraft Heinz comes as Delaware in recent weeks has seen a major increase in cases, particularly at processing plants operated by major poultry producers in Sussex County.
Gov. John Carney has said that a high number of workers at the poultry plants have tested positive but no specific number has been provided by the state.