CRETE, NE - A Nebraska meat packing plant is closing because of a COVID-19 outbreak.

Lincoln-Lancaster County Public Health Department Interim Director Pat Lopez says the Smithfield Foods in Crete is shutting down.

As of Sunday, there were 47 positive tests for COVID-19 at Smithfield. The National Guard and Bryan Health each held a mass testing events in Crete late last week.

Our news partners 10-11 Now report that an email sent to employees says the plant will shut down for at least two weeks. They report that the plant will be sanitized while shut down.

Smithfield announced Friday they were temporarily closing their plant in Monmouth, Illinois due to COVID-19, and earlier closed facilities in South Dakota, Missouri, and Wisconsin