Boeing Halts Operations At Puget Sound Factories

SEATTLE, WA — Boeing will suspend all production operations across the Puget Sound area by Wednesday, citing the state of emergency in Washington and the swift spread of the new coronavirus in the region, the company announced Monday.

The Seattle Times reports at least two dozen Boeing employees in Washington have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in recent weeks, and a worker at the company's Everett facility died Sunday from complications related to the virus.

Boeing is the largest private employer in Washington, with nearly half the company's workforce based in the state. According to the Associated Press, Boeing employs about 60,000 people in the state, and about 30,000 of them work at the Everett facility, which is the largest building in the world. Approximately 12,000 people work at the company's Renton plant.

In a news release Monday, Boeing said production employees should continue to report to their assigned shifts until they receive guidance on how the shutdown will affect each role. Boeing said some employees will be able to work from home, and those who cannot will receive paid leave during the two-week suspension.

Before employees can return to work, crews will perform deep-cleaning at "impacted sites," and the company will develop "rigorous criteria" for returning to work, Boeing said.

"We will continue to work closely with public health officials, and we're in contact with our customers, suppliers and other stakeholders who are affected by this temporary suspension," said Dave Calhoun, Boeing's CEO. "We regret the difficulty this will cause them, as well as our employees, but it's vital to maintain health and safety for all those who support our products and services, and to assist in the national effort to combat the spread of COVID-19."

Boeing said it will take an "orderly approach" when restarting production after the suspension is lifted, and it will work to minimize impacts to the company's ability to support defense, space and airline programs.

"We will keep our employees, customers and supply chain top of mind as we continue to assess the evolving situation," Calhoun said. "This is an unprecedented time for organizations and communities across the globe."