Tesla’s factory reopened Monday with Musk
practically daring local authorities to arrest him.
The plant apparently continued operations
on Tuesday. The company met a Monday
deadline to submit a site-specific plan to protect
worker safety, which Alameda County’s Public
Health Department is reviewing, said county
spokeswoman Neetu Balram.
The department has deemed the factory a
nonessential business that can’t fully open
under virus restrictions. The Fremont plant had
been closed since March 23.
Alameda County was among six Bay Area
counties that were the first in the nation to
impose stay-at-home orders in mid-March.
Newsom has repeatedly said counties can
impose restrictions that are more stringent than
state orders.
The Bay Area order, which Tesla has sued to
overturn, has been extended until the end of the
month. But counties plan to allow some limited
business and manufacturing starting May 18,
the same day Detroit automakers plan to reopen
auto assembly plants. Some auto parts plants
were to restart production this week.
The Detroit automakers’ 150,000 U.S.
workers are represented by the United Auto
Workers union, which has sought added
safety precautions. Tesla’s workers do not
have a union.
Tesla says it has a plan to maintain worker safety,
including the wearing of gloves and masks,
barriers between workers and maintaining social
distancing. It also will do temperature checks at
selected sites, the plan said.