(WWJ) -- Ford Motor Co. is gearing up to build respirators at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant to help with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to the UAW.
A Facebook post from UAW Local 3000 on Tuesday night says members of the Flat Rock Assembly Plant will be receiving robo calls this week to ask for volunteers to build respirators while the plant is shut down amid the COVID-19 crisis. Ford did not immediately confirm the plans.
The UAW says while details are still being worked out, the respirators will be made at the Roush Building and production is expected to begin as early as next week.
"This is a call to action for a cause that transcends everyday comforts. It is an opportunity to make a bad situation better, and help our medical professionals, first responders, and all affected by COVID-19," the robo call says, according to the UAW.
While it was not immediately clear how many respirators will be made at the plant, the UAW says there will be three shifts available for members. Shifts will be assigned to volunteers based on seniority choice, according to the UAW's Facebook post.
Ford announced on Monday it is teaming up with GE Healthcare to build 50,000 ventilators in the next 100 days at the Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti. With the addition of respirator production, that means Ford will be helping to produce two essential pieces of healthcare equipment that are in high demand during the pandemic.
Ventilators are machines used to help patients breathe, while respirators are masks that help protect healthcare workers. There is a dire shortage for both, as thousands of coronavirus patients are experiencing difficulty breathing.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says there are more than 7,600 known cases of COVID-19 statewide, while more than 250 people have died due to complications of the virus.
This is a rapidly evolving situation. Stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 where we will remain live, local and committed to bringing you the latest information during this outbreak. >>> LISTEN LIVE
