A spokesman for Wayne Farms confirmed that 75 employees of the Albertville plant have tested positive for coronavirus, and one has died.

An additional 250 may have been exposed and are in quarantine as a precaution, said Wayne Farms spokesman Frank Singleton.

The plant, which has more than 800 employees, will slow production to improve safety. That will allow employees to stand far enough apart to prevent transmission of the virus, Singleton said.

Singleton said there are no plans to close the plant. Cleaning crews have been inside, treating affected areas. Infrared scanners are being used to check temperatures as employees enter the plant.

“Every employee coming into the plant is provided with face masks and personal protective equipment,” Singleton said. “Anyone showing symptoms goes home for 14 days.”

Outbreaks of COVID-19 have been reported at meat processing plants around the country, including one in South Dakota that sickened hundreds of workers. last week, it was the country’s largest COVID-19 hot spot, forcing the plant’s closure.

Plant closures could threaten the food supply. Singleton said Wayne Farms is taking several steps to reduce transmission and protect workers.

“We can run at a reduced schedule to give employees more space for social distancing,” Singleton said. “Wayne Farms is part of the critical infrastructure and we are doing everything we can to continue to provide wholesome food to the public.