Boeing has closed the company’s Everett facility, located just outside of Seattle, Washington, for two weeks.
The decision comes after reports that employees have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, and one worker died from the disease on Sunday (local time).
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior Boeing executive told The Seattle Times that the decision was not triggered directly by the worker’s death, but was “based on the rate of increase of the coronavirus cases in the broader Seattle community as well as inside the plant”.
Seattle and its surroundings have been particularly hard-hit by the outbreak. As of 24 March, Washington state health authorities have confirmed some 2,200 cases in the area.
Of 29 Boeing employees who have so far tested positive for the virus, 24 were located in the Puget Sound area (which takes in Seattle, Tacoma and Everett).
“The recommendation to shut down initially came out of Seattle and was quickly accepted,” the Boeing executive said. “There wasn’t a lot of debate. It was clear the time had come to do something.”
Everett mayor Cassie Franklin welcomed the shutdown, thanking Boeing “for making what … was not an easy decision”.
“Closing the production facility, however, will further reduce the potential to spread COVID-19,” Franklin said.
“I thank them for taking this step to help keep our residents and workers healthy and safe.”
Boeing has guaranteed furloughed Everett employees full pay for the two-week suspension. The company said that during the course of the shutdown, it will conduct “additional deep-cleaning activities at impacted sites and establish rigorous criteria for return to work”.
