Detroit Automakers Reinstating Mask Mandates as COVID Surges

While much of the country has scaled back COVID mandates, Detroit’s Big Three automakers are telling workers to mask up again in plants where the CDC warns of high levels of COVID-19 infections.

There are growing concerns in the medical community that yet another new variant of the virus could make it especially easy to pass on infections — especially in indoor environments where people may come into close contact, such as automotive assembly and parts plants.

According to a statement from General Motors, the automaker “will be implementing COVID protection measures at our facilities in Oakland, Wayne, Livingston and Macomb counties given the CDC has now listed them as high risk.”

Plants located in new hot spots

The Centers for Disease Control currently lists 4.25% of U.S. counties as having high levels of COVID-19 infections. That includes six counties in Southeast Michigan, including the four GM is focusing on, as well as Washtenaw, where Ann Arbor is located, an hour west of the City of Detroit.

Those counties were hit hard during the very first COVID wave to reach the U.S. during spring 2020, local hospitals so overtaxed that Detroit’s convention center was briefly turned into a treatment center.

With infections rising among workers, the domestic manufacturers — and most others operating in the U.S. — ordered line workers to take numerous precautions, including masking, while most white-collar employees were sent home to work remotely.

COVID rates fell sharply in Michigan by early 2022, to the point that GM, Ford and Stellantis lifted mask mandates in March. (A large portion of their salaried workforces continue to operate remotely, however.)

Most foreign-owned automakers, such as Toyota and BMW, have lifted mask mandates, as well.

But the rising number of cases of the omicron variants has caused concern among the medical community. And the fear is that a new variant is even more infectious.

Readying for a new variant

Stellantis — which was formed last year by the merger of Fiat Chrysler and the PSA Group — said that as of today, company-issued face masks will again be required for employees, contractors and visitors at all Stellantis facilities in Michigan counties covered by the CDC advisory.

The automaker added “it is expected that the requirement will be in place for the next two weeks.”

Ford has also reinstated mask mandates in its plants in the affected counties.

The Detroit carmakers are not reinstating mask mandates outside the six-county region.

TheDetroitBureau.com is reaching out to other automakers to see if they are changing mask policies, though none currently operates assembly plants in Southeast Michigan.

But there are numerous automotive suppliers in the region. Rising infection rates could impact supplies of parts and components needed on auto assembly plants across the U.S.

The United Auto Workers union, which represents organized labor at many assembly and parts plants in Michigan, said it agreed with the renewed masking mandates.