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Worker at GOJO's Cuyahoga Falls location, where Purell is made, 'may have' coronavius

Officials say it is not yet known if the person has the disease.

AKRON, Ohio — A worker at GOJO's Cuyahoga Falls manufacturing plant where Purell hand sanitizer is made "may have" the coronavirus, the Akron-based company confirmed Thursday.

Officials say it is not yet known if the person has the virus, but they "are working to do everything we can to support this individual’s well-being and the well-being of our entire organization." The organization has reached out to other workers at the facility to discuss possible isolation measures.

In a statement, GOJO said, in part:

"As an essential supplier to front-line healthcare workers, first responders, government facilities and critical infrastructure, we are accelerating our production efforts. Unlike companies making non-essential products, we do not have the ability to stop production, and in fact are ramping up our operations to meet the pressing need at this time, and have always understood that the possibility of one of our own being impacted by this virus was probable."

Supplies of Purell and other hand sanitizers have been low amid the coronavirus pandemic, and GOJO has tried to ramp up production. Locally, the company is currently looking for more employees at its plant in Wooster.

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Although GOJO factories must stay open (unlike many other establishments in Northeast Ohio) in order to supply the public with more hand sanitizer, the organization says it has taken in-house measures to combat the spread of coronavirus, namely "several enhanced procedures, further increasing safety, hygiene, security, social distancing, and workplace cleaning protocols to keep our team members healthy."

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