One of Sherman County’s largest employers responds to workplace outbreak
Azure Standard is headquartered in Dufur and has a large warehouse facility in Moro. The company sells a variety of flours and other dry foods.
In a press release, Azure Standard said that On May 29, they were notified that one of their employees had tested positive for COVID-19.
On June 2nd and 3rd the company held an employee COVID-19 safety education session and COVID-19 testing was provided at the facility by North Central Public Health District (NCPHD). Additional testing revealed that four additional workers tested positive for the virus.
Information has not yet been released to show where these individuals reside but no additional cases in Sherman County have been added to the Oregon Health Authority’s website.
All of those who tested positive were immediately put into isolation and are recovering in their homes, according to the information provided by Azure. All close contacts of those workers have been provided with information and instruction to remain in quarantine for 14 days.
Azure says that in response to these five positive tests, the facility was completely closed on June 7 for a deep cleaning.
Environmental Health Inspectors from North Central Public Health District and staff from the Oregon Department of Agriculture were on site June 9 to provide ongoing guidance.
Barry Abrams, Director of Operations said that “At Azure Standard we will continue to do our utmost to ensure the health and safety of our workers, their families, and also the communities in which our employees live. At Azure, the health and safety of our employees and their families is our first priority. Working closely with local public health we have ensured that all workers who have come in close contact to those with COVID-19 at our worksite have been notified and are safely in quarantine in their own homes. We have initiated additional safety measures to prevent the spread of this disease, and appreciate the outreach from Sherman County Emergency Management, which has provided additional hand sanitizer and KN95 face masks.”