Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has declared the manufacturing of home appliances like home dishwashers, home washing machines, home refrigerators and home dryers as essential to our fight against the COVID-19 virus. As a result, corporations such as Haier Corporation/G.E. Appliances are holding our communities at grave and unnecessary risk by requiring thousands of Kentucky workers to jeopardize their lives, simply to stock corporate warehouses.

Against the demands of employees and their families, Haier Corporation/G.E. Appliances resumed production at the G.E. Appliance Park facility on Monday, March 30. The next day, employees were reported exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, resulting in the company temporarily closing 2 of 5 buildings at the facility. Multiple cases of COVID-19 have been reported among workers and their families in the days since. Enough is enough. Continuing production at G.E. Appliance Park and other non-essential facilities is a public health hazard.

We call on Kentucky Governor Andy Beshaer to designate the production of non-life-sustaining household appliances as non-essential, and enforce compliance from all Kentucky manufacturers.