BMW plant in South Carolina will be closed longer than planned because of coronavirus
The BMW manufacturing plant in South Carolina will remain closed longer than planned because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
After temporarily shutting down production at the Spartanburg facility on March 25, the plan was to reopen on April 13, BMW officials said Monday in a news release.
Now the plant will remain closed at least until the end of April, according to the release. About 11,000 people work at the Spartanburg plant.
Health concerns are not the only factor in keeping the BMW facility shuttered.
“The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been far reaching, and customer demand for our product has declined considerably,” officials said in the release. “Stay at home orders are still active throughout the country and Mexico, which is adversely affecting our supply chain.”
South Carolina has not issued a stay at home order like many other states, or one that several other elected leaders have called for. McMaster says that’s because he wants to be as least disruptive to people’s lives as possible.
In addition to South Carolina, the other states currently without a stay at home order are Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
While the plant is closed BMW officials said workstations will continue to be cleaned and disinfected.
“We continue to be concerned about the health and safety of the entire BMW workforce,” officials said.
The shutdown is forcing BMW Manufacturing to adjust its production volume, shift models and workforce structure to reflect the changing market, and more changes could be in store, according to the release.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
BMW is not the only car manufacturer in South Carolina dealing with issues related to the coronavirus.
Volvo closed all U.S. and Swedish plants through April 14, it said. That includes its plant in Ridgeville, Berkeley County, which employs roughly 1,500 workers and produces up to 150,000 cars per year. It is the only American plant the company has.
On Sunday, 132 new cases of the coronavirus were reported in South Carolina, bringing the statewide total to 2,049 confirmed COVID-19 cases in all 46 counties, according to DHEC.
DHEC also announced that four more people died after testing positive for the coronavirus, raising that total to 44 in a month. State health officials described 42 of the people as elderly, two patients were middle-aged, and all but four had underlying medical conditions.
Spartanburg County is ninth in South Carolina with 75 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, according to DHEC. As of Sunday, no patients who tested positive for COVID-19 in Spartanburg County have died, health officials said.
Symptoms of coronavirus can include a fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing, according to the CDC. Among the emergency warning signs of COVID-19 is trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, and blueish lips or face, the CDC said.
The best way to prevent infection is to frequently wash hands for 20 seconds; avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth; avoid contact with sick people and clean frequently touched objects with a cleaning spray or wipe, according to the CDC. DHEC also recommends covering your cough, staying home when sick, and disposing tissues and other items that you’ve sneezed or coughed into.
Free online screenings also can be accessed by all South Carolina residents, by going to scdhec.gov/COVID19.
Prisma Health is also offering free access to medical professionals for those who think they may have coronavirus, The State reported. People experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can go to https://www.prismahealth.org/virtual-visit/ and schedule a free online visit, Prisma officials said.
As of Monday morning, 1,280,046 people worldwide have been diagnosed with coronavirus and 70,356 people have died, while 270,098 recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States leads the world with 337,933 people who have been diagnosed with the novel virus. In the U.S. 9,653 deaths have been reported, including 3,048 in New York City, according to Johns Hopkins.
