RENTON, Wash. — Boeing says it will continue its shutdown of production indefinitely at its Seattle area facilities due to the spread of the coronavirus.
The company in an email to Washington employees on Sunday says it is extending the planned two-week shutdown rather than reopening Wednesday.
The decision affects about 30,000 of Boeing's 70,000 employees in the state.
The company says the decision is based on the health and safety of its employees, assessment of the coronavirus spread, supply chain concerns and recommendations from government health officials.
Employees are receiving their regular salaries during the two-week shutdown, but will have to transition to vacation or sick leave after that.
On March 23, the company announced a temporary shutdown of production that would have ended April 8.
When Boeing first announced the shutdown of production, there were 29 confirmed cases of coronavirus among employees company-wide, 24 of those in the Puget Sound area and five out of state.
Update: On April 6, Boeing extended the suspension of production to its 787 factories in South Carolina.