LANSING, MICH. – Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan signed an executive order requiring new protections for employees at meatpacking plants during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Meatpacking plants – where employees work in very close quarters – has proven to be a hotspot for COVID-19 infections in other states, which is why it’s important for these facilities to space employees out and ensure they have the proper Personal Protective Equipment to keep themselves and their families safe,” Whitmer said. “By implementing these science-backed safety guidelines we can help avoid the sharp upticks in COVID-19 cases states in the south and west are experiencing now.” 

The executive order in Michigan included 17 precautionary requirements meat and poultry plant operators are expected to implement. 

Although the order follows many of the already adapted CDC guidelines, Whitmer’s order also directs companies to reduce their capacity or modify processing lines to minimize the number of employees inside a facility during a shift.

Other requirements include conducting daily entry screenings, installing physical barriers to separate employees and providing masks to employees.