A Chicago based Ford manufacturing plant had to close its doors to disinfect after two employees tested positive for COVID-19. The plant was closed on Tuesday and has since reopened splitting into two shifts.
The plant, located at Torrance Avenue in the City, currently manufactures the new 2020 Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator and Police Interceptor SUVs.
“Fast and accurate testing is a key tool in the effort to help stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Walter Talamonti, Ford Medical Director said in a statement prior to manufacturing plans reopening in the US. “These contracts will allow us to test employees with suspected symptoms and have results back within 24 hours. If they test positive, we can quickly identify close contact employees who may have been exposed and ask them to self-quarantine for 14 days.”
The employees who tested positive are now in self-quarantine for 14 days. The employees at the Ford Chicago plant receive testing through the University of Chicago Medical Center and UChicago Medicine-Ingalls Memorial Hospital.
Under Phase 3 of Reopen Illinois, other non-essential manufacturing plants and warehouses could be allowed to open their doors once again. Due to the nature of symptoms, the U.S. has found itself on a constant 14-day loop trying to fight the virus. On Tuesday, over 98,000 in Illinois had contracted the disease, with 1,532,212 cases total in the U.S. since the pandemic began.
