Tesla workers reportedly test positive for COVID-19 after Musk forced factory reopening

Last month Tesla CEO Elon Musk bullied his way to reopening his electric car factory in California ahead of local health officials’ recommendations. Now there are reported coronavirus cases that likely stemmed from the rushed reopening. 

As the Washington Post reported Tuesday, several workers at Tesla facilities in Fremont were reportedly away from work because of coronavirus. Two confirmed cases were based out of a separate, nearby factory that makes seats. 

Tesla and Alameda County, where the Fremont factory is based, reached an agreement back in May to reopen ahead of the county’s shutdown schedule. The state had accelerated manufacturing reopening and President Donald Trump even encouraged Musk to restart, so Musk went ahead with his version of a social-distancing, reduced-capacity, and mask-compliant plan for the Fremont factory. 

That was a week before settling on an official reopening plan with county officials. Before that, Musk sent workers back to the factory, which meant testing wasn’t required yet and could have allowed sick workers to spread the infectious disease while at work, as county health officials told the Washington Post. Tesla didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Alameda County has seen an increase in cases in the past month, with nearly 4,000 cumulative cases as of Sunday. When the Tesla factory officially reopened, there were just over 2,200 cases.