Two Ford Employees Die From COVID-19

While Ford announced last Thursday its intention to resume production at a Mexican plant on April 6 and at select U.S. facilities in mid-April, two of its employees who contracted COVID-19 have died in the past few days.

The United Auto Workers (UAW) broke the news on Saturday.

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One of them worked at a stamping facility in Dearborn, Michigan and the other was a skilled trades worker based at the Ford Data Center, also in Dearborn.

"We are saddened to report that two Ford team members who worked in Dearborn passed away after contracting COVID-19," Ford spokeswoman Kelli Felker confirmed in a statement. "It is a tragic reminder that the coronavirus crisis is everywhere and requires the attention of all of us. Our thoughts are with their families, friends and co-workers during this difficult time.”

Naturally, she added: “Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our workforce, dealers, customers and communities. We will continue to follow the guidance from global health experts to do all we can to keep our people healthy."

Meanwhile at FCA, at least four infected employees have died so far. General Motors and other automakers with production facilities in North America have yet to report a death resulting from COVID-19.

Until their vehicle manufacturing operations resume, Detroit’s Big Three are busy making ventilators for patients and personal protection equipment for first responders and medical staff. Authorities including New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo have publicly stated that time and available resources are becoming a major issue.