In a sign we’re not out of the woods yet, a Detroit area auto plant has been shut down after a worker tested positive for coronavirus.
The Free Press reports Ford sent home about 800 workers at its Dearborn Truck Plant Wednesday afternoon. The automaker tells the Detroit News it plans to reopen this evening.
The infected employee worked Monday and Tuesday without wearing a mask at times, according to a text sent to workers and obtained by the Freep:
"The employee who tested positive worked Monday and Tuesday. Was removed from the floor today an hour into the shift. Employee was in the DTP union office yesterday for a period of time. That will have to b sanitized. Also, employee was on his job and over the past 2 days and had to be reminded to put his mask on while working. Union official had one on one contact with employee regarding his not wearing a mask. this union official was removed from the plant today and was given a COVID-19 test. He has tested negative. He will b quarantined for 14 days."
This is the third confirmed coronavirus case at a UAW plant since Detroit's three automakers resumed operations Monday following an eight-week shut down. Two others were reported at a Ford facility in Chicago.
The Big Three were reluctant to shut down plants at the onset of the outbreak. Dozens of UAW employees have since died of Covid-19.
Ford, GM and Fiat-Chrysler reopened with stepped up precautions after receiving the green light from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the UAW earlier this month.
Meanwile, on Wednesday Ford shut ts Chicago assembly plant because of a parts shortage
