Toyota reverses course: All plants, including Georgetown, to close for two weeks
Toyota has decided to close all North American plants, including the Georgetown location, for two weeks after a worker in Canada tested positive for coronavirus.
The shutdown, which begins March 23 at most plants, will extend through April 3. Production is scheduled now to resume on April 6, according to spokesman Rick Hesterberg. It covers all automobile and components plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
“On March 18, we were notified by Hamilton Public Health that a Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC, Cambridge – North Plant) team member tested positive for COVID-19. Our thoughts are with our affected employee and their well-being. The employee’s last shift worked was March 12,” the company said in a statement.
“Since then, the individual has been off work, taking action to minimize risk to others. The TMMC health center immediately contacted public health authorities and followed appropriate protocols. Our affected employee — as well as those identified as having had close contact with the individual — will remain in self-isolation and will not return to work until being cleared by a physician. We have taken the added precaution of deep cleaning and disinfecting all areas in which the employees were working, and will continue to follow the guidance of public health authorities. The health and safety of our team members, business partners and communities is our top priority.”
The automaker had announced on Wednesday it would close for just a few days. Toyota employs about 10,000 people in Kentucky; according to the company, all employees will get two weeks of paid leave.
No cases of COVID-19 have been reported at the Kentucky plant, Hesterberg said.
Toyota’s service parts depots and vehicle logistics centers, which provide critical services, will continue to operate.
Ford Motor Company, which is Kentucky’s largest manufacturer with almost 13,000 employees in Louisville, announced it will close all North American plants after Thursday evening shifts.
Ford’s shutdown will last through March 30 “to thoroughly clean its facilities to protect its workforce and boost containment efforts for the COVID-19 coronavirus,” according to a news release. An employee at a Michigan plant tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus, the company said.
A Fiat worker in Michigan also reportedly tested positive at one of its U.S. plants.
Fiat Chrysler and GM also will close all of their North American factories, which would include the GM plant in Bowling Green where Corvettes are made, according to published reports.
Honda North America also announced on Wednesday that it would close four U.S.-based plants on March 23 due to anticipated decline in market demand.
GE Appliances in Louisville also announced it will close for a one-week cleaning; production is expected to resume on March 30.
Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg also announced on Thursday that it it shutting down production. It expects to resume on April 6. All tours were suspended last week.
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 3:37 PM.
