More than 400 workers at a Tesla plant in California tested positive for the coronavirus between May and December, according to public health data released by a transparency website. The data provides the first glimpse into virus cases at Tesla, whose chief executive, Elon Musk, had downplayed the severity of the coronavirus crisis and reopened the plant in May, in defiance of guidelines issued by local public health officials. After resuming production, other automakers publicly announced when workers had tested positive for the virus and halted production to prevent further infection among employees and to disinfect work areas. Tesla, however, has released little information about employee coronavirus cases. It showed that 440 cases were reported at the Tesla plant, which employs some 10,000 people.

Source: New York Times March 13, 2021 19:18 UTC