Polycorp shutting down for a few days after ‘potential exposure’ to COVID-19

Company: there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus at plant, which will undergo 'full professional sanitization'

ELORA – The Polycorp Ltd. facility here will shut down for a few days for sanitization purposes after “a potential exposure” to COVID-19.

Company officials say there are no confirmed coronavirus cases at the plant, but the company sent workers home on March 23 as a precaution.

“After being notified this morning of a potential exposure to COVID-19, in an abundance of caution, Polycorp sent employees home,” reads an email statement from CEO Peter Snucins.

He added Public Health Ontario and Ministry of Labour were consulted about the decision, which impacts about 240 employees.

“At this time, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Polycorp,” he stressed.

Snucins, who did not elaborate on the source of the “potential exposure,” told the Advertiser the company is planning a “full professional sanitization of the facility, offices and equipment” with the goal of reopening on March 26.

Those plans may be affected by the province’s March 23 announcement that all “non-essential” businesses must close for two weeks by March 25.

Many manufacturing businesses are expected to stay open, though Snucins acknowledged the situation is “very fluid.”

Provincial officials say a full list of businesses allowed to stay open will be released on March 24.

Polycorp designs and manufactures polymer-based products to address abrasion, corrosion, impact, noise and vibration issues in various industries.

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