Tesla Plant Reopening Results in Surge of COVID-19 Cases - Is Elon Musk the One to Blame?

Escalating COVID-19 cases has been recorded after the Tesla Plant was reopened by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who had violated state orders involving coronavirus lockdown in May 2020. At the time, Musk was fully against business shutdowns amid the pandemic scare and even told the officers to arrest him.

What Happened to Tesla Plant Reopening Previously?

The Washington Post wrote that between May and December, the number went from ten COVID-19 cases to 125, ultimately reaching a total of 450 cases, as the data gathered by the county revealed. The workers at the plant were around 10,000.

In line with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the data on the COVID-19 cases could not be released as per the Alameda County Public Health Department. The said federal law tackled the protection of the health data of the people.

In mid-May, the Fremont Tesla plant was allowed to reopen, and in connection to this, the company has an obligation to report about the cases in its vicinity. In early June, it was reported that there are no known COVID-19 cases that infected the residents from the county.

For the 49-year-old magnate, the shutdown, which was mandated by the county, should not be happening. Since business firms are one of the most affected during the pandemic, a company like Tesla should continue its automobile production even though the order for the workers to stay at home has already been implemented.

Musk Does Not Like Business Shutdowns Amid Pandemic Scare

However, Musk continued the campaign against the federal government mandates.

During the time when Donald Trump was still the ruling as the U.S. president, Musk took note of Tesla's reopening, which attracted the attention of the former president to the business shutdowns. Some organizations have also recognized what Musk wanted to convey.

After that, Musk tweeted that his company will restart the production, which was against Alameda County's rules. Furthermore, he said that he supports those who are against the shutdown and even requested that he be the only one to be arrested if many will experience the same treatment.

Meanwhile, Tesla was also accused of the treatment of its workers. The company vowed that its employees could stay at home if they cannot return to the physical workplace immediately.

In late June and July, termination notices have reached the workers who grew concerned if they were exposed to the coronavirus. These are the people who chose not to return to work due to their possible COVID-19 exposure.

In the month of June, there were 19 cases of coronavirus infection, while in July, there were 58 reported cases at the Tesla Plant, as per Alameda County's data.

By late April, Musk said that the coronavirus was 'dumb,' and he released his prediction that the cases of infection will be close to zero during the said month. It drew the attention of many, and Musk was bombarded with flak from his critics, Weekday Times reported.

Just recently, on Mar. 12, Musk decided to remove a dubious tweet about the capabilities of COVID-19 vaccines, despite the assurance from the medical experts that people should be vaccinated for their protection.

The case of Tesla reopening were only a few of many cases involving operations of large companies. The coronavirus pandemic has really challenged numerous firms with how they plan to stay on track with their goals while abiding by the safety protocols.

This article is owned by Tech Times.

Written by Joen Coronel