Ford to use COVID-19 screening for symptomatic workers as part of reopening plan

Ford said Saturday it will check per hour and employed employees with believed COVID-19 signs in 4 city areas where it has major operations as it prepares to resume facilities this month.

The automaker is anticipated to resume production and some operations at its North America centers May 18.

Ford stated it will initially use polymerase domino effect (PCR) screening, which recognizes if someone is actively contaminated. PCR tests are used to identify the presence of viral RNA, not the existence of the antibodies, which are the body’s immune reaction.

The car manufacturer said it has actually signed contracts with health systems to carry out the testing. Ford will work with Beaumont Health for screening in Southeast Michigan, the University of Louisville Health in Louisville, Liberty Health Center in the Kansas City area and the University of Chicago Medical Center and UChicago Medicine-Ingalls Memorial Healthcare Facility in the Chicago location.

Collectively, Ford uses more than 72,000 people in Southeast Michigan, Louisville, Kansas City and Chicago.

The contracts will allow Ford to test employees with presumed symptoms with an objective of getting outcomes back within 24 hours, according to the car manufacturer’s medical director Dr. Walter Talamonti.

Evaluating results will be all at once shown Ford doctors to help identify other staff members who might have remained in close contact with a contaminated worker. Those workers will be needed to self-quarantine for 14 days.

The business is dealing with broadening testing, Ford CTO Ken Washington said in a statement. Washington included that Ford is looking into voluntary antibody screening in the future for its staff members.

Ford launched May 1 a back-to-work playbook that describes the protocols that it will put in place as soon as production at its factories resume. Staff members will need to complete a self-certification medical examination everyday and have their temperature scanned upon arrival to any Ford facility. Face masks will also be required. Shatterproof glass with side shields or face guards will be needed when tasks do not allow for social distancing.

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