Klaussner closes main plant for COVID cleaning
Larry Penkava
lpenkava@courier-tribune.com
ASHEBORO — The Lewallen Road facilities of Klaussner Home Furnishings will be closed this weekend for cleaning after several employees tested positive for the COVID-19 virus this week, the company said in a press release Thursday night.
"Our top priority is the health and safety of our employees and we are taking the proper steps to keep them safe during this crisis," said Terry McNew, Klaussner president and CEO, said in the release. "We plan to reopen once the cleaning process has been completed."
The press release said that the company has enacted the cleaning protocols consistent with CDC guidelines and that "other Klaussner locations, where there have been no Covid-19 cases reported, will remain open and operational."
Earlier this week, The Courier-Tribune received an email from an anonymous source complaining that Klaussner had placed the employees at risk by continuing to manufacture furniture, which the source questioned was an essential business.
The complaint also alleged that "employees were not provided with face masks, disinfecting wipes, and they just now provided hand sanitizer."
Asked to respond to the complaint, Len Burke, KHF vice president of marketing, said officials had "reacted as soon as we knew" of the positive tests. "We're taking precautionary steps" according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
He said the cleaning will be done by two third-party companies.
"We plan to reopen Monday and everyone will be screened at the front door and given masks," Burke said of the Lewallen campus.
He added that all Klaussner facilities, starting May 1, were checking employees at the door and handing out masks.
Burke also said that Karen Shears, vice president of human resources, is working with Sam Varner, Randolph County's point man on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Asked whether furniture manufacturing could be considered an essential business under Gov. Roy Cooper's COVID-19 shutdown order, Burke said the company was sewing face masks, which is an essential product. That allows the company to remain open.
"We wanted to let everybody know" about the positive tests and the temporary shutdown as well as steps being taken for employees, Burke said. "We're taking all the proper steps and, as our president said, our top priority is the safety of our employees."