BLUE BELL REPORTS ANOTHER COVID-19 CASE IN EMPLOYEE

  

Blue Bell Creameries has confirmed another positive COVID-19 case in an employee at the Brenham facility.

Blue Bell in an email said at least one other employee has tested positive.  The company said it is continuing its daily cleaning and sanitation programs, along with employee safety procedures and testing programs.  It maintains that the preventative measures adopted early on with guidance from health authorities have allowed for continued operation.

The company said it is holding meetings regularly to further assess the situation, and will be implementing additional measures as it evolves.  It said it is prepared to adjust operations and procedures to “ensure the health and well-being of our employees, customers, retail partners and the community”.

The company added it is following guidelines established by health officials by emphasizing to employees the importance of social distancing, hand washing, and staying at home if they are feeling ill.

Previously, Blue Bell said it implemented safety measures specifically to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Those measures include requiring temperature checks for every employee before entering its facilities, requiring protective gear like masks and gloves, installing plastic dividers for extra protection for employees working in close proximity of each other, increased cleaning of common areas and high-touch surfaces, suspending non-essential employee travel, staggered starts by production areas, letting some employees work from home, and separate break rooms and bathrooms to reduce co-mingling.

Blue Bell’s visitor center, ice cream parlor, and country store will remain open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the ice cream parlor and country store open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.