Editor’s note: In a previous version of this story, the headline incorrectly identified the name of the plant. This has been corrected.
Toyota Canada says it plans to close its Cambridge, Ont. plant on Thursday afternoon after an employee tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
The automobile manufacturer says they were notified by Hamilton Public Health on Wednesday that an employee at the north plant tested positive for COVID-19.
According to an internal memo obtained by Global News, employees will still be paid during the shutdown that is expected to last for 11 days.
“We believe this shutdown is right for Toyota at this time,” the memo stated.
The company is also planning to shut down the rest of the company’s automobile and components plants in North America beginning Monday, according to the memo.
The affected employee’s last shift at the Cambridge plant was on March 12 and they have been in self-isolation since.
According to another internal memo obtained by Global News, at least 10 others who may have had close contact with the individual have been placed into self-isolation as well for 14 days.
Toyota Canada said the affected employees will not return to work until being cleared by a physician.
Several employees who have contacted Global News say they were sent home at 11 p.m. on Wednesday night and the plant was shut down after the positive test was confirmed.
However, operations reportedly resumed on Thursday morning.
One employee who left out of fear for their own safety said they are being charged a personal day for doing so.
Global News has reached out to Toyota Canada for more information.
As of Thursday, Waterloo Region has 12 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.
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