As the number of Smithfield Foods workers with COVID-19 continues to rise, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken are calling on the meat packing plant to shut down for two weeks.

The state Department of Health said Saturday that 238 of the state's 626 cases involve workers at the Sioux Falls pork processing facility, up from 190 cases among workers reported a day earlier.

"I am sending a joint letter with the mayor to Smithfield's president," Noem said. "We recommend that they suspend operations for a minimum of 14 days."

The call for action requests that Smithfield continue to pay its 3,700 employees during the closure, though the state won't be providing any financial aid to the company, Noem said.

Earlier:Smithfield workers asked for safety from COVID-19. Their company offered cash.

"Please know we fully understand the gravity of what we are requesting of Smithfield, and we are aware of the challenges faced by your industry across the nation as a result of COVID-19," the letter reads. "However, this is your moment to take swift action for your people, the community of Sioux Falls and the State of South Dakota."

Smithfield previously announced that it would shutter operations for three days starting Saturday and continue through Monday.

The call for a longer closure comes as a caravan of protesters demanding a 14-day shutdown circled the Sioux Falls Law Enforcement Center where TenHaken addressed the media following Noem's press conference.

TenHaken said the decision to call for closure at Smithfield Foods came after confirmed COVID-19 cases among planters workers spiked for a third consecutive day.

'It's going to be devastating': Smithfield closure another blow to livestock industry

“We decided that we needed to get together and take further action," TenHaken said.

"This is not an order. It is not the law," TenHaken said. "It is a firmly worded recommendation."

TenHaken said 14 days will allow all Smithfield employees to get tested, get results and get healthy. The letter was sent around 3 p.m. Saturday. Both TenHaken and Noem said they were still awaiting a response.

If Smithfield doesn't comply, other steps could be taken, Noem said without elaborating on what those steps might entail. There is no deadline, but "I do anticipate they will be giving us a response shortly," Noem said.

Smithfield representatives did not to respond to multiple requests for comment Saturday by the Argus Leader.

TenHaken: Local officials working to get information to employees

With many of Smithfield's employees being immigrants and non-English speaking, TenHaken and officials with Sanford Health and Avera Health said efforts are under way to translate to them what they need to do to get screened and how to safely quarantine themselves if they are confirmed to have the coronavirus.

"We have interpreters actually in the emergency room full-time now and we have printed material in about six languages right now to hand out," said David Flicek, president and CEO at Avera McKennan Hospital. "So that is a major concern with this specific population, making sure that we're being clear and concise."

Of the state's reported COVID-19 cases, there have been 33 hospitalizations and six deaths.

Flicek said at no point has there been more than 10 coronavirus patients in Avera's hospitals at a given time. Sanford's Sioux Falls regional president Paul Hanson said that hospital system is experiencing similar loads.

On Friday, Noem issued a public health emergency declaration in Minnehaha County and had previously ordered that anyone 65 or older or with underlying health conditions stay home.

TenHaken said he made a formal request to Noem Saturday for her to broaden the shelter-in-place order to include all residents of Minnehaha County and Lincoln County. The city's "no lingering" ordinance that restricts occupancy at certain businesses to 10 patrons, in place since March 26, is expected to be extended into May in the coming days.

"We're taking these steps because on April 30, I don't want to stand up here and say we've had dozens of deaths in the city because we didn't act properly on April 11," TenHaken said.

Read full letter from Noem, TenHaken to Smithfield Foods