© Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS Trader Joe's customers create space between themselves as they wait patiently in line at the Clybourn Avenue location in Chicago, on March 28, 2020.

El Milagro, a Chicago-based tortilla maker, told employees over the weekend it will close its facility on Western Avenue for two weeks to sanitize the plant after one worker died and others tested positive for the new coronavirus.

The company hired an outside janitorial business to sanitize and deep clean the facility. Employees who are scheduled to work at the plant during the next two weeks will continue to be paid for 40 hours a week, El Milagro said in a letter to its employees.

© Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS Trader Joe's customers create space between themselves as they wait patiently in line to enter the Clybourn Avenue location on March 28, 2020.

Last week, the company was notified that a longtime sanitation employee died due to complications from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, El Milagro said. The employee had not been at work since April 9.

© Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS Shoppers engage in social distancing while waiting to enter Trader Joe's grocery store on April 1, 2020 in Lincoln Park during the coronavirus pandemic.

Two workers at the facility have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and four workers have shown symptoms, El Milagro said.

The temporary closure of the plant "will also allow all employees at this plant to essentially quarantine for two weeks and reduce the risk of this virus spreading,” El Milagro said.

More to come.

abjimenez@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @abdel1019

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