been closed since March 23. It employs about
10,000 workers.
Public health experts have credited the stay-
home orders with slowing the spread of novel
coronavirus, helping hospitals handle an
influx of cases. The coronavirus causes mild or
moderate symptoms for most people. But it has
killed more than 80,000 people in the U.S., with
the death toll rising.
Alameda County was among six San Francisco
Bay Area counties that were the first in the
nation to impose stay-at-home orders in mid-
March. Gov. Gavin Newsom has repeatedly said
that counties can impose restrictions that are
more stringent than state orders.
The order in the Bay Area has been extended
until the end of the month, but the 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 negotiated for added safety
precautions. Tesla’s workers do not have a union.
Musk, whose company has sued Alameda
County seeking to overturn its order, threatened
to move Tesla’s manufacturing operations and
headquarters from the state.
Tesla contends in the lawsuit that Alameda
County can’t be more restrictive than orders
from Newsom. The lawsuit says the governor’s
coronavirus restrictions refer to federal guidelines
classifying vehicle manufacturing as essential
businesses that are allowed to continue operating.