The Clayton Sulphur Springs Building Facility closed Wednesday, after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, Clayton Media Relations Manager Caitlyn Crosby confirmed Thursday afternoon. The employee is the second employee from the Sulphur Springs facility to test positive for COVID-19 and May 20 marked the second time the Sulphur Springs plant has temporarily closed recently, the media official clarified later Thursday afternoon.
Over a week ago, the facility closed for deep cleaning and sanitizing after a team member tested positive for coronavirus. The business remained closed for one day during the cleaning process at the facility at that time, Crosby said.
“The health and safety of our team members and their families is extremely important to our company. A Clayton team member at our Clayton Sulphur Springs home building facility in Texas has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). We are committed to supporting this team member as well as protecting their privacy,” Crosby said Thursday of the most recent notification.
Clayton notified team members and closed the facility May 20, until further notice, to perform a deep cleaning and sanitization after the second employee tested positive, according to Crosby.
The facility had already taken several precautions, including establishing a task force that has been monitoring COVID-19, as well as implementing increased sanitization procedures and policies, social distancing, daily temperature screenings and requiring face coverings to help protect the health of team members, according to the media relations manager.
The facility is in the process of being cleaned, and the company as yet has not determined a date for the facility to reopen.
Clayton is providing free testing for all team members before reopening the facility. The business has also provided team members with additional paid time-off that may be used during this temporary closure, according to Crosby.
The home building industry was designated an essential business by the Department of Homeland Security, which allowed the business to continue operating as a “critical for public health, public safety, economic security or national security” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were also called upon by many government leaders at the state level to continue providing affordable housing during these uncertain times and we are doing so with the utmost caution for the safety and health of our team members, their families and communities,” Crosby said.
Company officials wish the team members affected a quick recovery, according to the media relations director, and plan to keep the team informed as they learn more about the current case and make decisions regarding operations.
