The Alameda County Public Health Department has agreed to allow Tesla’s manufacturing plant in Fremont to reopen for production starting on Monday, as long as certain conditions are met.
Public health officials say the county received Tesla’s COVID-19 proposals on Monday.
“We reviewed the plan and held productive discussions today with Tesla’s representatives about their safety and prevention plans, including some additional safety recommendations,” says county spokesperson Neetu Balram in a statement Tuesday.
Tesla and county officials have been at odds after CEO Elon Musk restarted production Monday in defiance of county orders. Musk has accused public health officials of ignorance and abusing their power and threatened to move production out of state entirely.
If the company adopts the changes and health data remains stable, the county says, “we have agreed that Tesla can begin to augment their Minimum Business Operations this week in preparation for possible reopening as soon as next week.”
However, the plant’s parking lot was bustling as usual Wednesday morning and some workers confirmed to KCBS Radio that production is continuing. One worker estimated that production levels do appear to be at about 30%, as Musk proposed in an email to employees last week.
Tesla’s plant in China has resumed operations as the country reopened.
“Elon Musk has said that none of his 7,000 workers in China have died from the coronavirus,” says Tim Higgins, tech and autos reporter for the Wall Street Journal. “The company has been putting in place their containment methods, there are efforts to make sure to keep it’s workers safe.”
County officials say Fremont police will be on hand to verify that Tesla is complying with the agreed upon measures starting Monday, but did not address the company’s continued operations this week.
Also starting Monday the county says it may allow additional activities for local businesses after evaluating the impact of loosened restrictions that went into effect May 4th.