Boeing is temporarily shuttering its Seattle-area factories, adding to a wave of plant closings sweeping the globe and compounding hurdles for a company already reeling from the grounding of its top-selling plane.
The shutdown will begin March 25 and last 14 days, Boeing said in a statement. The company will conduct deep cleaning at affected sites and establish “rigorous criteria for return to work.”
The closing leaves Boeing with just one fully functioning jetliner factory, a 787 Dreamliner plant in South Carolina. Production at the company’s facility in Renton, Washington, largely stopped in January because of the global 737 Max grounding, imposed a year ago after two deadly crashes.
“This necessary step protects our employees and the communities where they work and live,” said Boeing Chief Executive Officer Dave Calhoun. He said the company was working with public health officials, customers and others.
More coronavirus coverage from Fortune:
—Why the extraordinary dollar surge spells more trouble for the global economy
—Japan finally admits coronavirus might disrupt Tokyo 2020 Olympics
—Which stores are open—and closed—during the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S.?
—What medical experts say about Everlywell’s home coronavirus testing kits
—How to defer your mortgage payment due to coronavirus
—How Emmy season is proceeding, with caution, amid the coronavirus crisis
—Listen to Leadership Next, a Fortune podcast examining the evolving role of CEO
—WATCH: World leaders and health experts on how to stop the spread of COVID-19
Subscribe to Outbreak, a daily newsletter roundup of stories on the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on global business. It’s free to get it in your inbox.
