LM Wind's N Dakota base closed due to COVID-19 outbreak

LM Wind Power’s production facility in Grand Forks, North Dakota, will be shut down for at least 14 days after more than 100 employees at the site tested positive for COVID-19.

North Dakota’s Governor Doug Burgum said in a press release on Saturday that the confirmed coronavirus cases at the factory have increased by 88 following the testing of 426 people on Thursday. Including cases confirmed outside of that testing event, the number of total confirmed cases at the factory became 110, with the results of 52 more tests still not ready. Additional tests are planned for next week, as well.

LM Wind Power, which is part of General Electric (NYSE:GE), makes rotor blades for wind turbines at the Grand Forks manufacturing base. Its COVID-19 positive workers will be quarantined for 14 days, effective April 16.

The GE subsidiary will carry out an extensive disinfection process during the shut-down, paying its staff the usual remuneration. The company’s business is considered critical and is not subject to government-directed lockdown measures.

North Dakota is among the states that have reported the least number of coronavirus cases in the US. It announced a state of emergency on March 13.

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