A Sioux Falls business with more than 3,600 employees won't be shutting down or sending employees home amid the mass closures and workplace changes being implemented around the country in response to COVID-19.

Smithfield Foods, which has more than 40,000 employees nationwide, is maintaining normal operations during the pandemic, something its leadership says is a necessity during a time of crisis and a result of federal orders.

"Food is an essential part of all our lives, and our more than 40,000 U.S. team members, thousands of American family farmers and our many other supply chain partners are a crucial part of our nation’s response to COVID-19," Smithfield Foods president and CEO Kenneth Sullivan said in a statement sent to the Argus Leader Friday.

Though the statement didn't address questions about any protocol or operation changes to ensure the protection of Smithfield Foods workers or consumers, messaging online from the company says it's increased sanitation practices beyond the "literally thousands" of safety measures already in place.

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"We are taking the utmost precautions to ensure the health and well-being of our employees and consumers," Sullivan said in an online video.

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Mayor Paul TenHaken this week has repeatedly encouraged private employers to allow their employees to stay home and work remotely if possible. But Smithfield Foods will not do that based on guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and President Trump.

"If you work in a critical infrastructure industry, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, such as healthcare services and pharmaceutical and food supply, you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal work schedule," according to the White House website.

The CDC says there is no evidence that COVID-19 is associated with food and "there is likely very low risk of spread from food products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient, refrigerated, or frozen temperatures."