So far, no cases of workers infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus have been identified directly at Samsung (and SK Hynix) semiconductor factories in South Korea. It was like that until today. The first patient to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 was at the Samsung plant in Kiheung.
Samsung's semiconductor plant for processing 200mm silicon wafers is located in Kiheung. This company produces image sensors and various LSIs. After identifying a patient with a positive reaction to SARS-CoV-2, all plant employees who had contact with him were sent to self-isolation, and the sick personβs workplace was closed for disinfection.
The contamination and partially enclosed workspace did not stop the so-called βclean roomβ, where the main work on processing silicon substrates takes place. In other words, the plant continues to operate as before and this incident did not lead to its shutdown, as for example, this happened with the Samsung plant in the city of Gumi, where smartphones are assembled. After the infection was confirmed, the facility was temporarily closed.
The development of the epidemic in China had virtually no effect on Samsung's semiconductor factories. There were some concerns about possible supply chain disruptions, but they did not materialize. The virus is now spreading throughout the Republic of Korea, where two companies Samsung and SK Hynix together produce up to 80% of the world's computer memory. It is unlikely that these factories will be completely stopped; they are automated as much as possible, but there is still some risk of such an event.
Source: 3dnews.ru