In this April 26 photograph, a long row of unsold 2020 Fits sits at a Honda dealership in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. (AP Photo)
As Ohio begins to reopen, Honda is planning to gradually resume operations early next week.
“With the focus on the safety of associates while resuming production, we will stagger our production start dates in the U.S. and Canada to first train front-line leaders on new processes and activities related to COVID-19 prevention measures,” according to a statement from the company.
Production will resume at Honda of America Manufacturing’s Performance Manufacturing Center with full teams Monday, May 11. Associates will be asked to report to work at assigned times.
Production at the Anna Engine Plant, East Liberty Plant and Marysville Auto Plant will also resume the same day with Team Leaders and Team coordinators only, also at assigned times.
According to Honda, May 11 will be designated as a No Work Available (NWA) day for all other production associates at these locations. Associates on NWA that day should continue to comply with state requirements for unemployment benefits.
All furloughed associates outside of California will also resume work May 11.
“Honda will continue its social distancing measures, including remote work, where possible,” the company statement included.
Those who were working remotely prior to the furlough will continue to do so, unless instructed otherwise, it added.
On May 12, all production associates at the Anna Engine Plant, East Liberty Plant and Marysville Auto Plant will be asked to report to work at an assigned time.
The company said additional information related to staggered shift start times, social distancing and other COVID-19 prevention measures will be mailed to the homes of associates at manufacturing companies later this week.
As the state shifts from the Stay at Home order to the Stay Safe Ohio order, like Honda, many businesses are incorporating safety measures while they reopen.
According to the Union County Health Department, the county has seen 26 COVID-19 cases.
Of those affected, 20 have recovered and six are actively ill. Three have required hospitalization and one individual is currently hospitalized.
Eight new cases were reported in the past week.
Cumulatively, 35% of cases had occupational exposure, meaning the ill person was a healthcare worker, correctional facility employee or first responder; 31% of cases had an unknown source of exposure; 19% had travel exposure and 15% were close contacts of a known case.
The cases are split evenly between males and females. The ages of those affected range from 2 to 83 years old, with a median age of 44.5.
As of Monday, no cases have been reported in Union County congregate settings, including long-term care and correctional facilities.
According to UCHD, 24 close contacts of affected individuals that were identified through contact tracing are self-quarantining and monitoring for symptoms.