Jel Sert Temporarily Halts Manufacturing Amid Coronavirus Crisis

WEST CHICAGO, IL — After three employees contracted coronavirus and weeks of pleading from employees and employee support groups, Jel Sert has temporarily closed its manufacturing plant as of April 3. The company, which makes Fla-Vor-Ice, Wylers and other brands said in a news update that it plans to reopen "a portion of the manufacturing facility on or around April 13, 2020."

In the meantime, corporate employees will keep working from home and the company's distribution center will remain open. Patch left a voicemail for Jel Sert asking if plant employees will be paid during the closure, but did not get an immediate reply.

Jel Sert went under fire after three employees were diagnosed with coronavirus and the plant remained open. Casa DuPage Workers Center, which offers support and resources for employees, demanded that the company close for cleaning and pay its workers during the closure.

In late March, the company shut down its manufacturing portion over a weekend for deep cleaning and sanitation, but reopened the following Tuesday.

In a statement on its website, Jel Sert wrote of the most recent closure, "We felt that this was a crucial precautionary measure due to the continued community spread of COVID-19 cases in DuPage County and the self-quarantining of some of the Jel Sert staff. Our team has been working around the clock to take all precautions necessary to keep our employees safe during the coronavirus pandemic."

They added they "care deeply about our commitment to servicing our customers and are exploring every available option to return to full production as quickly and as safely as possible."