The Chicago Assembly Plant will not reopen on March 30.
Ford has been doing a deep cleaning of the Chicago Assembly Plant in Hegewisch, the Chicago Stamping Plant in Chicago Heights, and other automotive factories across the country to protect workers from the novel coronavirus, which by Tuesday had infected more than 400,000 and killed more than 18,500 people worldwide.
But now the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker said it won’t be able to resume production as planned on March 30. The company is reassessing the timing of reopening its plants in North America.
“Ford’s top priority is the health and safety of our employees, dealers, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders. In light of various governments’ orders to stay and work from home, Ford is not planning to restart our plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico on Monday, March 30 as originally hoped,” Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s North America president. “We are assessing various options and working with union leaders — including the United Auto Workers and Unifor — on the optimal timing for resuming vehicle production, keeping the well-being of our workforce top of mind.”
The UAW cautioned workers that it was not known how Illinois’ “shelter in place” order would affect the Chicago Assembly Plant and told workers the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana potentially could offer assistance to their families.
The prolonged shutdown affects Northwest Indiana’s steel mills, which make much of the metal that goes into cars manufactured in North America. ArcelorMittal has already announced it is idling Blast Furnace #4 at ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor in East Chicago.
Lear workers will get a week’s pay, told to file for unemployment
The Ford shutdown also affects suppliers like Lear, which makes seats for the Ford Explorer and other vehicles at its Hammond factory, which was shut down for thorough cleaning after two workers there tested positive for coronavirus a week ago.
United Auto Workers Local 2335 is encouraging the 875 workers at the Lear plant just south of the South Shore Line East Chicago station to file for unemployment benefits online or on their mobile phone while the plant is shut down. Lear agreed to pay furloughed workers up to 40 hours of lost time, including the balance of the shift for those who were sent home after a partial workday after the coronavirus cases came to light.
The company will continue to provide health care benefits during the temporary layoffs, waiving the employee contribution.
Front line of COVID-19 in Crown Point
Medical workers manage drive-thru COVID-19 testing Wednesday outside the emergency room at Franciscan Health hospital in Crown Point.
Kouts practice, Franciscan hospitals in Crown Point, Michigan City testing for COVID-19
A medical worker speaks with a patient during drive-thru COVID-19 testing Wednesday outside the emergency room at Franciscan Health hospital in Crown Point.
Kouts practice, Franciscan hospitals in Crown Point, Michigan City testing for COVID-19
A medical worker speaks to a patient during drive-thru COVID-19 testing Wednesday, March 18 outside the emergency room at Franciscan Health hospital in Crown Point.
Kouts practice, Franciscan hospitals in Crown Point, Michigan City are testing for COVID-19 — with doctor’s note
Kathy Lynch, Samantha Mokol, Jessica Young and Ireland Smith, nursing staff at Kouts Health Care, administer COVID-19 testing Wednesday.
Kouts practice, Franciscan hospitals in Crown Point, Michigan City are testing for COVID-19 — with doctor’s note
Workers at Kouts Health Care, a private practice in south Porter County, administer COVID-19 testing Wednesday. The office first started offering drive-thru testing to potentially sick individuals on Saturday.
Kouts practice, Franciscan hospitals in Crown Point, Michigan City are testing for COVID-19 — with doctor’s note
Staffers at Kouts Health Care, a private practice in south Porter County, administer COVID-19 testing Wednesday.
Janitorial service launches COVID-19 task force to disinfect contaminated facilities
Merrillville-based Bryco Facility Services has launched a COVID-19 task force to disinfect contaminated facilities.
Janitorial service launches COVID-19 task force to disinfect contaminated facilities
Merrillville-based Bryco Facility Services has launched a COVID-19 task force to disinfect contaminated facilities.
Strack & Van Til launches emergency fundraiser fpr those suffering hardship during coronavirus crisis
Salvation Army volunteers stocks the shelves at the Hammond-Munster Food Bank.
Drive-up church service
Pastor Dennis Meyer of Bethany Lutheran Church appealed for courage during a Sunday service held in his church parking lot because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Drive-up church service
People in close to 50 vehicles showed up at Bethany Lutheran Church on Sunday in LaPorte for a social distancing service organized in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Jeff and Darlene Spencer
Darlene Spencer, the wife of a local pastor, Jeff Spencer, is in critical condition after testing positive for the novel coronavirus, according to social media posts by the pastor.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Albert’s Diamond Jewelers, Fiddlehead, Home Goods, Planet Fitness among many temporary coronavirus closings
A sign posted outside South Shore Eye Care in Munster informs customers it’s temporarily closed because of coronavirus.
Unions donating respirator masks to health care workers to aid in coronavirus response
Northwestern Indiana Building & Construction Trades Council Business Manager Randy Palmateer and Pipefitters Local 597 Business Agent Dennis Hahney inspect a union donation of respirator masks for hospitals and medical personnel.
18th Street Distillery helping make hand sanitizer
Kat Fanning, general manager of 18th Street Distillery, collects donations of empty containers on Friday in Hammond. The bottles will be used for hand sanitizer the distillery is making to help combat the coronavirus pandemic.
Unions donating respirator masks to health care workers to aid in coronavirus response
Northwestern Indiana Building & Construction Trades Council Business Manager Randy Palmateer and Pipefitters Local 597 Business Agent Tom Elkins check email for requests for respirator masks to donate to hospitals and medical personnel.
Church rings bells for coronavirus responder
Bethany Lutheran Church in LaPorte will ring its church bells at 10:08 Friday to give thanks to all emergency responders for putting their safety on the line for others during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
Gelsosomo’s Pizzeria Crown Point giving away free sack lunches to stuck-at-home school kids
Gelsosomo’s Crown Point has started giving away free sack lunches for school kids stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on every weekday. Owner Peter Anderson, right, and General Manager Jennifer Richey, are shown preparing sandwiches.
Hammond casino donates 30,000 lbs. of food after being closed for coronavirus
Workers unload 15,000 pounds of perishable food at Campagna Academy in Schererville donated by the Hammond Horseshoe Casino, which was ordered by the state to close Monday due to coronavirus. The casino donated another 15,000 pounds of food to Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana.
Hammond casino donates 30,000 lbs. of food after being closed for coronavirus
Workers unload 15,000 pounds of perishable food at Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana donated by the Hammond Horseshoe Casino, which was ordered by the state to close Monday due to coronavirus. The casino donated another 15,000 pounds of food to Campagna Academy in Schererville.
Lake government buildings closing, county employees working half days due to pandemic
The Lake County commissioners, from left Kyle Allen, D-Gary; Chairman Mike Repay, D-Hammond; and Jerry Tippy, R-Schererville; ordered the Lake County Government Center closed to the public Wednesday, and directed most county employees to work half days through at least April 6 due to coronavirus.
Coronavirus threat no match for charity
Mary Ann Ernst, Crown Point Strack & Van Til Supermarket customer service manager, received a unique request from a shopper on Monday. The customer bought $100 worth of gift cards from the store and asked Ernst to give them to anyone she believed could use the assistance.
Hobart Fire Dept coronavirus
Hobart firefighters practice safely putting on and taking off personal protective equipment in the event they are exposed to hazardous substances like coronavirus.
Shopping at Stracks
A sign in the front of the Crown Point Strack and Van Til Supermarket informs customers what they need to know about the coronavirus.
Meal Pickup for Hammond Schools
Johanna Charles, left, and her daughter, Antonella Cuadra, depart from the front of Edison Elementary School on Tuesday after picking up food. Coronavirus has altered the routines of most families.
Meal Pickup for Hammond Schools
School City of Hammond employees deliver food for families during meal pickup on Tuesday at Edison Elementary School in Hammond. The organization is providing meals for students on designated days as the children are out of school to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
East Chicago COVID-19 press conference
East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland, seated center, speaks Monday about the steps his administration is taking to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Myles Books
Myles Books co-owner Demetrios Roumbos organizes the bookshelves in the store on Monday in Highland. Roumbos says customers have been purchasing more books as they prepare to spend more time indoors due to coronavirus concerns.
Jennifer Wilson
Jennifer Wilson, 42, of Crown Point, is in self-quarantine after showing symptoms of COVID-19. She was tested for the coronavirus disease on Monday.
Northwest Indiana Cancer Kids Foundation annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation Event 2020
Northwest Indiana Cancer Kids Foundation board member Lauren Juran, left, and director of services Nicole Yarrow, help check in visitors to Texture Pointe Hair Salon in Highland on Sunday. The event, originally canceled due to coronavirus concerns, was able to be rescheduled and hosted at the salon.
Gymnastics state finals
The IHSAA 2020 gymnastics state finals were limited to competitors, event staff and credentialed media due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Stores imposing purchase limits per customer on hot coronavirus items
Shelves of Lysol products are left empty Wednesday at stores throughout the Region as concerns over the coronavirus spreads.
Lake County restaurants lobby state for coronavirus relief, warns of widespread closures
General manager Nick Papamihalakis mixes drinks in the bar area at Provecho Latin Provisions in Crown Point.
Kouts practice, Franciscan hospitals in Crown Point, Michigan City testing for COVID-19
A sign points the way to the Michigan City testing site.
Kouts practice, Franciscan hospitals in Crown Point, Michigan City testing for COVID-19
Cars line up in the parking lot at Michigan City to await patient testing.
Covid19 testing in Kouts
Kathy Lynch, owner of Kouts Family Health Care Inc readies a test for COVID-19 Wednesday in the parking lot of the facility where people drove up and had nasal swabs taken while they waited in the vehicles.
Covid19 testing in Kouts
Kathy Lynch, owner of Kouts Family Health Care Inc., prepares to take a nasal swab sample for the COVID-19 virus Wednesday as 10 people wait in their vehicles to be tested.
Covid19 testing in Kouts
Viles for nasal samples fo the COVID-19 virus at Kouts Family Health Care Inc where they tested 10 people Wednesday in drive-thru fashion.
Covid19 testing in Kouts
Kathy Lynch, left, owner of Kouts Family Health Care Inc.,and Jessica Young prepare to take test swabs from 10 people for the COVID-19 virus Wednesday.
Covid19 testing in Kouts
Kathy Lynch, owner of Kouts Family Health Care Inc. puts a test swab in a vile after taking a nasal sample from one of 10 people who waited for testing in the cars Wednesday at the facility.
Covid19 testing in Kouts
Jessica Young, left and Kathy Lynch, owner of Kouts Family Health Care Inc., wait to test people for the COVID-19 virus Wednesday.
Covid19 testing in Kouts
Ireland Smith, a member of the nursing staff at Kouts Family Health Care Inc., is reflected in the wet pavement as she finishes getting information from people being tested for the COVID-19 virus Wednesday at the facility.
Covid19 testing in Kouts
Nursing staff wait to take samples from people being tested for the COVID-19 virus Wednesady at the Kouts Family Health Care Inc., where they tested 10 people. The facility received tests on Saturday, and took nasal swabs fro patients experiencing symptoms, with results expected in about 4 days.
Covid19 testing in Kouts
Kathy Lynch, owner of Kouts Family Health Care Inc., takes a nasal sample from one of 10 people who were scheduled for tests for the COVID-19 virus Wednesday. People drove through and waited in the vehicles for the tests to be taken.
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