COVID-19 case shuts down MSSL

Wiring systems manufacturer Motherson Sumi Systems Limited of Portland is expected to reopen Friday after the plant has been disinfected.

The plant in Portland’s industrial park — which operated as Alphabet and as JCI under previous ownership — closed Wednesday after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.

Jay County Health Department environmentalist and administrator Heath Butz said his office had been working with the company after the COVID-19 positive case had been identified.

“As information comes in, any factory that gets a positive case, we will work with them,” said Butz. “I can’t give any specifics on anything. … There’s a (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommendation that if you identify a positive you do a cleaning.”

Butz noted that many places of employment have already implemented “enhanced cleaning” procedures due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We advise them on a number of things,” said Butz.

Those include mask usage, cleaning procedures and decontamination of surfaces and areas between shifts

“There’s a whole host of things they can do,” Butz said.

He noted that closing the plant temporarily for cleaning was not mandatory but was a matter of the company following the health department’s recommendations.

“With essential operations, the goal is that they remain open,” said Butz.

He declined to comment on test results at other local places of employment.

“I can’t really confirm anything on any location,” he said.

Based in India, Motherson Sumi is a publicly traded company with operations throughout Europe and Asia as well as in the United States. Much of its manufacturing is for the automotive industry. Company officials declined to comment for this story.

As of today, Butz said, Jay County has 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Indiana State Department of Health on Wednesday reported 605 new cases and 63 new deaths, the highest since the coronavirus pandemic began.