After re-starting production following a two-month shut down, Ford Motor Co. was forced to stop assembly lines at factories in Chicago and Michigan due to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemnic. This is the latest sign of the risks to companies and their employees as they attempt to resume work during the Covid-19 outbreak. On Tuesday, the Chicago plant was shut down because of two confirmed Covid-19 cases among workers at a nearby parts-assembly plant, which makes seats for the Ford factory. This is the second shut-down by the Chicago plant. The main assembly plant was back in operation by Wednesday morning after both facilities were disinfected overnight and it was believed that these employees did not contract Covid-19 while at work. The closures come after Detroit's auto makers on Monday began restarting their U.S.factories, which were idled around 20 March as the coronavirus pandemic took hold. The companies have spent several weeks preparing measures to ensure a safe work environment. They include temperature checks, plastic barriers between workstations and even electronic bracelets that beep if an employee violates social distancing rules. Also, on Wednesday, a Ford worker at the Dearborn Michigan plant tested positive for Covid-19; the plant was shut down for disinfection and was re-opened in the afternoon. Work is expected to resume Wednesday night after part of the factory is disinfected, The Michigan plant is one of two factories that make the F-150 Ute Cars, Ford's biggest money maker. The Chicago plant makes the Ford Explorer sport-utility vehicle, one of the company's most popular models, along with the Lincoln Aviator SUV. Ford experienced a troubled rollout last year of a redesigned Explorer and the Aviator, a new SUV model, after a major overhaul of the Chicago factory After re-starting production following a two-month shut down, Ford Motor Co. was forced to stop assembly lines at factories in Chicago and Michigan due to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemnic. This is the latest sign of the risks to companies and their employees as they attempt to resume work during the Covid-19 outbreak. On Tuesday, the Chicago plant was shut down because of two confirmed Covid-19 cases among workers at a nearby parts-assembly plant, which makes seats for the Ford factory. This is the second shut-down by the Chicago plant. The main assembly plant was back in operation by Wednesday morning after both facilities were disinfected overnight and it was believed that these employees did not contract Covid-19 while at work. The closures come after Detroit's auto makers on Monday began restarting their U.S.factories, which were idled around 20 March as the coronavirus pandemic took hold. The companies have spent several weeks preparing measures to ensure a safe work environment. They include temperature checks, plastic barriers between workstations and even electronic bracelets that beep if an employee violates social distancing rules. Also, on Wednesday, a Ford worker at the Dearborn Michigan plant tested positive for Covid-19; the plant was shut down for disinfection and was re-opened in the afternoon. Work is expected to resume Wednesday night after part of the factory is disinfected, The Michigan plant is one of two factories that make the F-150 Ute Cars, Ford's biggest money maker. The Chicago plant makes the Ford Explorer sport-utility vehicle, one of the company's most popular models, along with the Lincoln Aviator SUV. Ford experienced a troubled rollout last year of a redesigned Explorer and the Aviator, a new SUV model, after a major overhaul of the Chicago factory
