Kansas City MO Health Department Working With Local Paper Plant After Coronavirus Outbreak

Press release from the City of Kansas City:

June 2, 2020

The Kansas City, Missouri Health Department is working with Aspen Paper Products, Inc., to contain a COVID-19 outbreak that has already infected more than 200 Kansas City residents.

The manufacturing plant is located in the city's 3rd District, which has had the highest number of local cases.

In mid-May, the Health Department received its first positive COVID-19 lab result for a Kansas City resident who works at the company. After case counts increased each week, on Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30, the company provided testing for its employees, which revealed the large scope of the outbreak.

The Health Department is providing the company with detailed recommendations to help mitigate the outbreak, including sanitization measures, personal protection equipment and physical distancing instructions, temperature checks before shifts, and a testing schedule to identify those who unknowingly have the virus and are passing it to others at the business.

The company employs approximately 850 people, including almost 500 permanent and 375 temporary employees.

Media inquiries should be directed to Michelle Pekarsky, 816-719-3610 (cell). Follow the Health Department on Twitter.

This press release was produced by the City of Kansas City. The views expressed here are the author’s own.