Ford, Stellantis, GM to require face masks at SE Michigan plants as COVID-19 cases rise

Ford, General Motors and Stellantis will once again require face masks at facilities in southeast Michigan where COVID-19 cases are on the rise.

A GM spokesman said on Saturday that the company would add "protective measures" in response to the coronavirus surge. On Monday, the company confirmed that a face mask requirement would be one of the measures.

The changes are to align with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and they come about two months after a COVID-19 task force made up of representatives from the Detroit Three automakers and the UAW announced that masks would become optional.

In recent weeks, however, the coronavirus picture has changed rapidly.

People in 16 Michigan counties are now advised to wear masks in indoor, public places because the counties are in the high-risk category based on the CDC data tracker, the Free Press reported on Friday. The levels, according to previous reporting, can range from low to high and are based on hospital bed use, hospital admissions and the number of new COVID-19 cases in an area.

Stellantis, in a notice shared through a number of Facebook postings, highlighted its facilities in five of the high-risk counties — Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, Wayne and Washtenaw counties.

The company provided a statement to the Free Press:

"Beginning Monday, May 16, company-issued face masks will again be required for employees, contractors and visitors at all facilities located within the five Michigan counties now classified as high risk of infection by the CDC. It is expected that the requirement will be in place for the next two weeks."

More: 16 Michigan counties now at high level of COVID-19 transmission. CDC says wear a mask.

More: COVID-19 cases in Michigan expected to climb through May: What it means