Rochelle Foods Reopens Monday, 123 Test Positive

ROCHELLE – A food production plant in Rochelle will reopen this week after shutting down for two weeks due to the Coronavirus.  Rochelle Foods, owned by Hormel Food Company, closed after some workers tested positive for Covid-19.  According to local health departments, 800 workers were tested for the virus, and 123 tested positive.  Area health departments in North Illinois have conducted contact tracing and isolated those who tested positive.  The food producer, which processes food for grocery stores and food service companies, is scheduled to open May 4th, and says its plan for reopening exceeds CDC and OSHA guidelines and “raises the bar on best practices in the food industry.”