ROCHELLE (WREX) — The Ogle County Health Department is ordering the immediate closure Hormel's Rochelle Foods facility because of a COVID-19 outbreak.



As of Friday, 24 cases of COVID-19 have been linked to the facility in Ogle County.



A release sent by the department says the plant has 48 hours to comply with the order and that it will be in effect for 2 weeks.



"Although many essential businesses are open and operating, we will not tolerate them risking the health and safety of their employees and our community during this pandemic or any other time," said Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows.



Of the 24 cases linked to the plant, 19 of the cases are in Ogle County, three are in Whiteside, and two are in Winnebago County.



"Due to the outbreak, it is necessary to take immediate action to protect the community from this dangerous and infectious disease," the release said.



The release also says the health department has attempted to assist in the control of the outbreak, but those attempts have been unsuccessful.



Those attempts include:



— Recommendations for additional testing

— Additional steps for employee monitoring

— Recommendation for additional Sanitation processes

— Isolation of positive cases

— Quarantine of close contacts and household contacts

— Recommendation of a two-week voluntary closure

Hormel Foods released the following statement Friday night: