Two coronavirus cases confirmed at MFJ
COVID-19 cases have been confirmed at yet another Starkville business as of Friday.
MFJ Enterprises Human Resources Manager Randy Romero confirmed that two cases of the novel coronavirus had recently been confirmed at the amateur radio equipment manufacturer’s facility on Industrial Park Road in Starkville.
Romero said he knew of at least five or six more MFJ employees who had been tested for the virus since the two positive tests were confirmed. Approximately 110 people work at MFJ’S Starkville facilities.
“The whole three or four months that this has gone on, we hadn’t had any cases,” Romero said. “I don’t know if that’s a miracle, but recently we had two confirmed cases. There’s several people that are being tested, and we’ve had several come back negative also.”
He said the cases at the plant had cropped up over the past 18 days.
“I would say that we’re taking reasonable precautions and following CDC guidelines,” Romero said.
He said the company would be reiterating the guidelines recommended by many agencies, including face coverings, social distancing and hand washing. He said the company had begun taking precautions immediately once the pandemic began.
“We’re an essential business, so we have been open this whole time,” Romero said.
“We have been taking the appropriate, reasonable precautions.”
Romero also said he was concerned for both the company and its employees.
“I wouldn’t say I’m overly concerned, but there are a couple of things that are a concern,” Romero said. “In the beginning, my concern was that we kept all of our people working because people need their jobs, but obviously their personal safety is at the top of our list of concerns. Obviously, having two people test positive is having us re-evaluate and make sure we’re doing the things we need to do.”
He also spoke to the impact the recent cases and the pandemic had on MFJ’S production.
“Some people have been nervous about it, so there are people that are out of work, not because they’re sick, but because they’re concerned about being around others, so it has had some effect on our plant production,” Romero said.
MFJ is the world’s largest Ham radio equipment manufacturer, and has been located in Starkville since 1972.
The company also owns Ameritron, Hy-gain, Vectronics, Mirage and Cushcraft.