The New Balance factories in Norridgewock, above, and Skowhegan were closed Friday after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel file Buy this Photo
New Balance shoe factories in Skowhegan and Norridgewock closed Friday after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, marking the company’s first confirmed case in Maine.
It was the second time this summer the footwear factories closed. They first closed for a day in June while an employee was awaiting a test which ultimately came back negative for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.
“New Balance’s top priority is to maintain the health and safety of our associates, customers, and communities,” the company said in a statement Friday. “As soon as we were notified that an associate in our Norridgewock factory tested positive for COVID-19, our first confirmed case in Maine, we followed our comprehensive safety procedures. Our thoughts are with our colleague for a swift recovery.”
The factories were closed Friday for a precautionary cleaning day.
New Balance produces some 3 million pairs of athletic shoes each year in the U.S. – and even more worldwide. The company employs 900 workers in Maine, and also has a factory in the town of Norway.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.