Tesla appears to defy Bay Area shutdown, plans to operate Fremont factory
Personally, I think this is incredibly irresponsible. Elon told his workers to stay home even if they feel "slightest bit ill or even uncomfortable" [0]. Yet, according to the CDC, symptoms may not appear until 2-14 days after exposure [1]. So Tesla employees may be spreading the virus to each other, and the rest of the world, without knowing it.<p>In the Alameda order which describes what "essential businesses" may remain open, the closest loophole I can see that might allow the Tesla factory to stay open is for "Airlines, taxis, and other private transportation providers providing transportation services necessary for Essential Activities and other purposes expressly authorized in this Order" [2]. I think it's more than a stretch to say that building new cars counts as transportation services. Repairing existing Teslas, sure. But I don't think Tesla should be allowed to keep building new cars. And I think if Elon cares about his workers' safety, and the safety of the world, he would ask his employees who are building new cars to stay home.<p>[0] <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-tesla-factory/teslas-u-s-factory-to-stay-open-as-coronavirus-lockdown-begins-report-idUSKBN2140Q8" rel="nofollow">https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-tesla-...</a>
[1] <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/s...</a>
[2] <a href="http://acphd.org/media/559658/health-officer-order-shelter-in-place-20200316.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://acphd.org/media/559658/health-officer-order-shelter-i...</a>