Governor Greg Abbott today provided an update on job openings in the Lone Star State and outlined resources for Texans seeking employment due to the economic effects of COVID-19. The Governor also announced that nearly 500,000 job openings are currently listed on WorkInTexas.com, a powerful online job matching and workforce solution system developed by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). This system provides fast access to a complete set of employment tools in one website where job seekers can browse job postings, find education and training, and complete resumes and state applications.

The Governor presented different industries and certain employers that are hiring in each region of Texas and announced that many companies — including H-E-B, Amazon, and Randalls — are hiring statewide. Governor Abbott also discussed additional resources available through the 28 local workforce development boards located throughout the state of Texas. The local workforce solutions offices are also available to employers of all sizes who can receive assistance in recruiting, identifying, and hiring qualified individuals. These services are available to both employers and job seekers at no cost.

Job seekers can visit Texas Economic Development and Tourism’s Texas Jobs page for links to all 28 local workforce development boards. The webpage also contains additional COVID-19 resources for employers and job seekers alike.

“As we continue to slow the spread of COVID-19, we are also working to alleviate the severe economic devastation that has impacted so many Texans,” said Governor Abbott. “People are ready to get to work and earn a paycheck again, and the State of Texas is committed to connecting Texans with the many job opportunities that exist throughout the state. I thank the Texas Workforce Commission, our local workforce organizations, and businesses across the state who are working tirelessly to connect Texans with job openings during these challenging times.”

View the Governor’s presentation.

Mayor Sylvester Turner on Monday named former Shell Oil Co. Chairman and President Marvin E. Odum as the city’s COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Czar. In this role, Odum will work with business leaders, chambers of commerce, employee groups, and nonprofit organizations on a plan to safely and responsibly restart Houston’s economy. Odum will also work on strategies to address the challenges faced by the city’s vulnerable and at-risk populations, develop a plan to avoid the resurgence of community spread, and help the city prepare for a future pandemic or viral attack.  “Marvin is no stranger to working on disaster recovery, as he previously served as Houston’s Chief Recovery Officer after Hurricane Harvey,” Mayor Turner said. “From all sectors, he received rave reviews for the team he assembled, the task force he created, and the collaborations he forged. Marvin is the right person for the job.” During his time as Houston’s Chief Recovery Officer, Odum was credited with working successfully with regional, state, and federal partners to secure funding for housing and reform policies. He broke new ground in disaster recovery and helped move Houston forward as a more resilient city. “To be clear, this is about keeping people safe and getting people back to work and re-energizing our economy,” said Odum. “We have been charged with completing the plans that reflect the delicate balance between the need to return to work with the necessary vigilance required to keep people safe and healthy.” Mayor Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo have had numerous conversations about the region’s recovery from the COVID-19 health crisis. Odum will work directly with the county’s designated representative to forge a cohesive strategy and a plan for Houston and Harris County. “Over the past two months, we have aggressively worked to save lives and blunt the progression of coronavirus, and we see positive results, but the virus is not yet under control. Before we send people back to work and reopen businesses, we must also have robust, ubiquitous testing. We also must consider what happens if we reopen the economy, and we start to see an increase in the number of positive cases,” said Mayor Turner. “You can expect that this plan with be gradual and phased, and I’m sure we all understand why things cannot immediately return to normal,” said Odum. “We will need the continued cooperation of all Houstonians to ensure this plan is successful, and we will provide more details as soon as possible.” Odum served as Chairman/President of Shell Oil Company from 2008-16 and was a director/executive committee member of Royal Dutch Shell.  In addition to working with and investing in several technology-based start-up companies, Odum is a board member of Europe-based Stena international and Stena Drilling, CEO of TerraLithium and Chairman of AAL LLC – focused on low carbon energy technologies. He is a board member of the National Urban League and MD Anderson Cancer Center. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the Dean’s Council for Harvard’s JFK School of Government, advisory board for University of Texas’s Cockrell School of Engineering and co-chair of the capital campaign for the University of Houston which has exceeded its goal of raising $1 billion. In March 2020, BakerRipley honored Marvin and his wife, Mariloli, with the Alice Graham Baker Award for their work on Hurricane Harvey recovery and their commitment to help vulnerable communities.

Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Texas National Guard will be mobilizing more than 1,200 personnel as part of COVID-19 mobile testing teams (MTT). The 45 member teams will be mobilized in various parts of the state providing greater access to medical testing. The areas for these MTTs will be identified by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) with the first two of the 25 teams deployed to Fredericksburg and Floresville, Texas. The remaining 23 teams will be deployed to additional locations based on assessments made by DSHS.

“The State of Texas continues to expand our COVID-19 testing capacities and ensure that communities across the Lone Star State have access to the resources they need,” said Governor Abbott. “I am grateful for the dedication of our Guardsmen as they continue to serve their fellow Texans throughout the COVID-19 response.”

“COVID-19 testing is a crucial mission in our fight against this virus,” said Maj. Gen. Tracy R. Norris, adjutant general of Texas. “We are proud to support our partners TDEM and DSHS in bringing this critical capacity to areas in need of medical support.”

The teams will have 11 medical professionals and support staff, as well as 34 soldiers. Currently, the Texas National Guard has the capacity to test 150 people per day at each mobile testing team location.

The Texas Military Department was activated by Governor Abbott in March to assist communities across Texas in the COVID-19 response. Currently, over 2,500 Guardsmen are serving in various capacities in response to this activation. In working with local communities they have helped manufacture over four million pieces of personal protective equipment, conducted over 9,000 COVID-19 tests, and helped distribute food and supplies with local food banks to thousands of Texans each day.

The MTTs are in collaboration with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and DSHS.

During these uncertain times, Lone Star College-University Park is finding ways to offer support and encouragement to students and the community. LSC-University Park is emphasizing the importance of community involvement, unity and perseverance during times when most people feel social distancing is costing human connection. The college found a creative solution to connect faculty, staff, students and community through a video project that shares a message of hope. The “UPlifting Notes” video has been viewed by thousands and shared across multiple social media platforms.

“At LSC-University Park, we value our relationships with our students and community and want them to know that we are their community’s college,” said Dr. Shah Ardalan, LSC-University Park president. “Through “UPlifting Notes,” we hope our students and community feel more connected to our college even when they cannot physically be at our college. Even though social distancing may put miles between us, our caring and compassionate faculty and staff are always here for them. We understand many of our students are going through troubling times, and I hope this video gets the message out that we have been and always will be here to help.”

The video includes LSC-University Park administrators, faculty, staff and students alongside family and first responders seemingly passing notes of positive sentiment to one another. However, the video utilized the camera frame as a point of connection so that none of the participants were in the same space and could participate from home.

“This time in our country and communities is unprecedented and people are facing many unknowns. Our college wanted to show that there is still ample opportunity for positive connection and that we’re all in this together,” said Keri Porter, LSC-University Park chief strategist of innovation and research. “People throughout our college were excited to participate and bring smiles to our students, co-workers and community.” 

“Our family participated in the video because the COVID-19 pandemic has created a feeling of isolation around the globe,” said Catherine Dumond, LSC-University Park dean of enrollment management. “This was a chance for us to spread some positivity and ensure that everyone knows they are supported. I love how the video turned out and we were so happy to be part of it!”

So far, the video has had more than 3,000 views and over 100 shares across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. To watch the video, visit bit.ly/UPliftingNotesVideo1. The video is also available on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for sharing to spread positivity in your own circle.

The college hopes to release a follow-up video to further brighten the social media feeds of those practicing social distancing at this time. The college is continuing to accept “UPlifiting Notes” videos submissions at bit.ly/UPliftingNotes.

The college continues to explore multiple methods of connecting and communicating with students, faculty and staff and have developed a range of resources responsive to their needs as they learn and work remotely. From Cisco WebEx seminars on study habits and managing anxiety, to live open forums with administration, all resources ensure students and employees are taking care of themselves and have the knowledge to succeed in an online format. Students are continuously engaged as the LSC-University Park Office of Student Life hosts virtual museum tours and crafting events online. The college plans to release further training on mental health and well-being in the coming weeks, including a panel discussion on the psychological and sociological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information about LSC-University Park and registration for the summer and fall semesters, visit LoneStar.edu/UP or email UP-Information@LoneStar.edu.

Established in 2012, Lone Star College-University Park has been recognized as one of the fastest growing and most innovative institutions of higher education in the country. Under its founding president, Dr. Shah Ardalan, LSC-University Park is devoted to impacting the community’s prosperity and upward mobility through student success. The college’s competent and compassionate faculty and staff provide students with holistic and immersive education and training in disciplines and industries that meet current and future workforce needs. Standout college facilities include the Center for Science & Innovation, the Energy & Manufacturing Institute, the Learning Innovation Labs and the Geology Rock Wall. For more information about LSC-University Park, please visit LoneStar.edu/UP or call 281.290.2600.

Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 99,000 students each semester. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area with an annual economic impact of nearly $3 billion. LSC consists of seven colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.

Governor Greg Abbott held a press conference where he issued three new Executive Orders to begin the process of reopening the state of Texas while revising hospital capacity and certain social distancing guidelines. Within the orders, select activities and services that pose minimal to no threat of spreading COVID-19 are allowed to reopen using a “Retail-To-Go” model, certain restrictions on surgeries have been loosened, and schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year.

Within these orders, the Governor has established the Strike Force to Open Texas—a team of nationally recognized medical experts and private and public leaders who will advise the Governor on safely and strategically reopening the state of Texas.

“Texans are battling a colossal challenge—an invisible enemy that has tested our lives and our livelihoods—but overcoming challenges is part of who we are as Texans,” said Governor Abbott. “We have shown that Texas can continue our efforts to contain COVID-19 while also adopting safe standards that will allow us to begin the process of reopening Texas. The Strike Force to Open Texas brings together nationally recognized medical experts with public and private sector leaders to achieve this mission. By coming together, we can get Texans back to work, practice safe standards that will prevent the spread of COVID-19, and we can overcome this pandemic.”

James Huffines will lead the advisory strike force and Mike Toomey will serve as Chief Operating Officer. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Comptroller Glenn Hegar will serve as consulting members.

In addition, Governor Abbott has appointed Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD, as Chief Medical Officer of the strike force. Dr. Hellerstedt will be supported by three Chief Medical Advisors:

John Zerwas, MD, Executive Vice-Chancellor for Health Affairs at the University of Texas System

Mark McClellan, MD, PhD, Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner and U.S. Medicaid and Medicare Administrator

Parker Hudson, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Dell Medical School and program director for the Internal Medicine Residency

These health experts will develop a medical architecture to comprehensively test and trace COVID-19 that will enable Texans to gradually and safely begin the process of returning to work and other activities.

The medical team will work alongside a Special Advisory Council who will share innovative ideas to help businesses strategically reopen while containing the spread of COVID-19. The council consists of 39 business leaders representing the state’s regions and industries. The advisory council will collaborate with working groups to devise strategies, statewide standards, and appropriate time frames to reopen the Lone Star State while prioritizing the health and safety of all Texans.

The strike force will immediately begin providing input on potential additional openings of activities and services in Texas consistent with guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Governor will announce a revised plan for the state based on these initial recommendations on April 27.

Special Advisory Council members include:

Arcilia Acosta: President and CEO, CARCON Industries & Construction

Paul Andrews, Jr.: Founder and CEO, TTI Inc.

Mark Bivins: Rancher, partner in Corsino Cattle Company

Kathy Britton: CEO and Owner, Perry Homes

Brad Brookshire: Chairman and CEO, Brookshire Grocery Co.

J. Bruce Bugg, Jr.: Chairman, Texas Transportation Commission

Alonzo Cantu: President & CEO of Cantu Construction

Bobby Cox: Owner and operator, Bobby Cox Companies, Inc.

Adriana Cruz: Executive Director, Economic Development & Tourism Division, Office of the Governor

Michael Dell: Chairman and CEO, Dell Technologies

Scott Dueser: Chairman, President & CEO, First Financial Bank

Don Evans: Chairman of the President George W. Bush Foundation, Chairman of Permian Strategic Partnership

Tilman Fertitta: Chairman, CEO, and sole owner, Landry’s, Inc.

Richard Fisher: Senior Advisor, Barclays and Former President & CEO, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Rick Francis: Chairman of the Board, WestStar Bank Holding Company, Inc.

Printice Gary: Founding Partner/Principal and CEO, Carleton Companies

Brad Heffington: Owner of Heffington Farms, Inc. and Triple T Irrigation, Inc.

Jeffery D. Hildebrand: Executive Chairman and Founder, Hilcorp Energy Company

Nancy Kinder: President & CEO, Kinder Foundation

Tom Luce: Founder and Chairman, Texas 2036

Marc McDougal: CEO, McDougal Companies

Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale: Owner, Gallery Furniture

Drayton McLane: Chairman, McLane Group

Elaine Mendoza: Founder, President & CEO of Conceptual MindWorks, Inc

Balous Miller: Owner, Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Restaurants

Carla Moran: Ramar Communications

Dennis Nixon: CEO and Chairman of International Bank of Commerce

David Oliveira: Partner at Roerig, Oliveira & Fisher, L.L.P.

Ross Perot, Jr.: Chairman, The Perot Group

Kevin D. Roberts, Ph.D.: Executive Director, Texas Public Policy Foundation

Robert B. Rowling: Owner and Chairman, TRT Holdings, Inc.

Kendra Scott: Founder and CEO, Kendra Scott

Robert F. Smith: Founder, Chairman & CEO, Vista Equity Partners

Sam L. Susser: Chairman of BancAffiliated, Inc.

Massey Villarreal: CEO and President, Precision Task Group, Inc.

Kirk Watson: Founding Dean of the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs

Marc Watts: President, The Friedkin Group

Graham Weston: Former Chairman of Rackspace Hosting Inc.

Sanjiv Yajnik: President of the Financial Services Division, Capital One

For more information about the Governor’s Strike Force to Open Texas, visit the strike force webpage.

The Governor’s second Executive Order (GA-16) relates to the safe, strategic reopening of select services and activities in Texas. This order establishes a temporary “Retail-To-Go” model that will allow retail outlets in Texas to reopen beginning Friday, April 24. Under this model, reopened establishments are required to deliver items to customer’s cars, homes, or other locations to minimize contact.

Under this Executive Order, schools—including public, private, and higher education institutions—will remain closed for the 2019-2020 school year. Teachers may go into the classroom for video instruction, to perform administrative duties, and to clean out their classrooms.

The Governor’s third Executive Order (GA-15) relates to hospital capacity and personal protective equipment (PPE) needed for the COVID-19 response. The order loosens restrictions on surgeries put in place by Governor Abbott in March. Beginning at 11:59pm on April 21 through 11:59pm on May 8, all licensed health care professionals and all licensed health care facilities must continue to postpone all surgeries and procedures that are not medically necessary to diagnose or correct a serious medical condition of, or to preserve the life of, a patient who without timely performance of the surgery or procedure would be at risk for serious adverse medical consequences or death as determined by a patient’s physician. Exceptions now include:

Any procedure that, if performed in accordance with the commonly accepted standard of clinical practice, would not deplete the hospital capacity or the PPE needed to cope with COVID-19, or
Any surgery or procedure performed in a licensed health care facility that has certified in writing to Texas HHSC both (1) that it will reserve at least 25% of its hospital capacity for treatment of COVID-19 patients, accounting for the range of clinical severity of COVID-19 patients, and (2) that it will not request any PPE from any public source—whether federal, state, or local—for the duration of the COVID-19 disaster.
The Governor today also directed state parks to reopen on Monday, April 20 with strict guidelines to reduce transmission of COVID-19—including requiring visitors to wear face coverings, maintain a six-foot distance from individuals outside of their party, and prohibiting the gathering of groups larger than five.

Today, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the City of Houston is partnering with the Houston and Texas Restaurant Associations to encourage Houstonians to support local restaurants.   COVID-19 has changed our city and disrupted our routines. Businesses across the state are suffering, and that includes the restaurant industry.    According to the Texas Restaurant Association, the restaurant industry has a $70 billion impact in Texas. The restaurant industry is the 4th largest employer in the Houston area, with more than 300,000 employees.   To help the restaurant industry, Mayor Turner announced the “Take Us to Your Table” campaign in partnership with the Houston and Texas Restaurant Associations. While you may not be able to get a seat at your favorite restaurant, they can certainly have a seat at yours.   “Houston is a foodie town, and our restaurants reflect the city’s diverse culinary tastes and vibrant culture. The COVID-19 public health crisis is having a devastating effect on the men and women who work in the foodservice industry,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “I want to encourage the public to support local restaurants through delivery and curbside takeout. It’s important to support the restaurants that make Houston so special. If we work together, we will get through this challenging time together.”   In a show of support, ExxonMobil is donating $100,000 to the TX Restaurant Relief Fund initiative of the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation. The donation will support Houston restaurants and their employees, who will prepare meals for health care workers, police officers, and firefighters responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.   “We want to thank those teams and individuals working around the clock to look after the people of the greater Houston area,” said Linda DuCharme, president of ExxonMobil Upstream Integrated Solutions. “In addition to supporting health care workers and first responders, we also want to help out area restaurants and their employees who’ve been hard hit by the pandemic.”   The donation will allow for approximately 6,000 meals to be prepared and delivered by local Houston restaurants to frontline responders at Texas Medical Center member hospitals, the Houston Police Foundation, the Fire Fighters Foundation of Houston, and the Spring Fire Department.   Prominent Houston chefs will participate in the effort that will enable participating restaurants to bring needed work to furloughed staff.   The Texas Restaurant Association’s nonprofit arm established the TX Restaurant Relief Fund last month to provide immediate financial support to the state’s independent restaurateurs and their employees who have been heavily impacted by the loss of business due to COVID-19.   “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on restaurants, a critical part of Texas’ food supply chain,” said Dr. Emily Williams Knight, president, and chief executive officer of the Texas Restaurant Association and Education Foundation. “In every crisis, restaurants are often the first to help feed the front line, including hospital staff and first responders. We are incredibly grateful to ExxonMobil for this grant, which both supports Houston restaurants, their employees, and enables them to feed frontline responders during this unprecedented time. Through this initiative, participating restaurants will be able to hire back up to 50 percent of their furloughed employees. This donation demonstrates that by working together, we can keep the heartbeat of our communities – food and medicine – in service for all.”   Mayor Turner is encouraging all Houstonians to support our local restaurants and to share photos of what they’re ordering with the hashtag #TakeUsToYourTable.

METRO continues to put safety first, as always, in response to COVID-19 (the coronavirus). Posters are going up all across the system reminding riders and everyone in the community to protect themselves and others by wearing face masks.Safety Remains Priority #1 in METRO’S Response to COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has acknowledged face masks could provide some benefit in preventing the spread of the disease.

Even more cleaning teams are on the job now disinfecting surfaces frequently touched by the public. This additional staffing allows METRO to go beyond its usual, rigorous daily cleaning and provide extra midday cleanings at transit centers.

Click here to see the cleaning staff hard at work helping to blunt the spread of COVID-19.

METRO President & CEO Tom Lambert shares the Authority’s commitment to everyone in the region as we work together to care for each other and ourselves. He also encourages riders to wear a face covering and only take essential trips.

Click here to hear Lambert’s message of appreciation.

METRO’s extended family is doing its part. When METRO Police Officer Ng learned about the shortage of personal protective equipment for first responders, he knew just the people who could help.

Click here to see how Officer Ng’s wife, children and mother turned their sewing talents into an act of generosity.

We couldn’t do any of this without you. METRO customers continue to adhere to public health officials’ guidelines, and that allows us to continue to run essential services for essential trips.

Click here to see messages riders are leaving for our front line staff, and all we can say is the feeling is mutual.

Ford está ampliando sus esfuerzos para diseñar y producir equipos y suministros médicos que se necesitan con urgencia para trabajadores del cuidado de la salud, personal de primeros auxilios y pacientes que luchan contra el coronavirus.

Además de la producción actual de más de 3 millones de protectores faciales en Plymouth, Michigan, la producción de respiradores purificadores de aire motorizados diseñados por Ford comienza el martes 14 de abril. Ford también está produciendo máscaras faciales y liderando un esfuerzo para escalar la producción de batas reutilizables para trabajadores del cuidado de la salud. Por último, Ford comenzó a proporcionar experiencia en fabricación para ayudar al proveedor de instrumentos científicos Thermo Fisher Scientific a expandir rápidamente la producción de kits de recolección de COVID-19 para detectar el virus.

“Sabíamos que, para ayudar a combatir el coronavirus, teníamos que apurarnos y unir fuerzas con expertos como 3M para expandir la producción de equipos y suministros médicos que se necesita con urgencia”, dijo Jim Baumbick, vicepresidente de Administración de la Línea de Productos de Ford Enterprise. “En solo tres semanas en el marco del Proyecto Apolo, hemos desatado nuestro talento de fabricación, compra y diseño de clase mundial para ponernos firmes y comenzar a fabricar equipos de protección personal y ayudar a aumentar la disponibilidad y la producción de respiradores”.

La Colaboración entre Ford y 3M Conduce a un Nuevo PAPR

Desde finales de marzo, los expertos en fabricación, compra y cadena de suministro de Ford se han integrado en las instalaciones de fabricación de 3M para ayudar a aumentar la producción de productos que se necesitan con urgencia.

Con esta ayuda adicional, 3M y Ford pudieron aumentar la producción de PAPR y respiradores N95 en las instalaciones de fabricación de 3M en los EE. UU.

“3M se dedica a ayudar a proteger a nuestros heroicos trabajadores de atención médica y personal de primera respuesta a nivel mundial, incluido el intercambio de nuestra experiencia científica para aumentar el suministro de EPP necesarios”, dijo Bernard Cicut, vicepresidente de la División de Seguridad Personal de 3M. “Nos enorgullece apoyar a Ford en este esfuerzo, ya que nos han ayudado a aumentar la fabricación de productos 3M PPE existentes y, juntos, hemos diseñado rápidamente un nuevo PAPR para ayudar a proteger a estos héroes”.

Ford comenzará a producir un diseño PAPR completamente nuevo para ayudar a proteger a los profesionales del cuidado de la salud en la primera línea que luchan contra COVID-19. Diseñando rápidamente componentes y prototipos de acuerdo con las pautas federales y con el apoyo y la orientación de expertos de 3M, los equipos de Ford redujeron el tiempo de desarrollo de PAPR a menos de cuatro semanas.

“Al trabajar en colaboración con 3M para combinar rápidamente más de 100 años de experiencia en fabricación e ingeniería de Ford con diseño y experiencia en equipos de protección personal, estamos obteniendo la tecnología que tanto necesitan los trabajadores médicos de primera línea para ayudarlos cuando más lo necesitan, “dijo Marcy Fisher, directora de Ford, de ingeniería Global de Exterior e Interior de Carrocería.

Aproximadamente 90 voluntarios pagados de la UAW ensamblarán PAPR en las instalaciones de Ford en Vreeland cerca de Flat Rock, Michigan, con la capacidad de fabricar 100,000 o más.

El PAPR de nuevo diseño incluye una capucha y un protector facial para cubrir las cabezas y los hombros de los profesionales del cuidado de la salud, mientras que un sistema de filtro de alta eficiencia (HEPA) proporciona un suministro de aire filtrado por hasta 8 horas. El sistema de soplador de aire, similar al ventilador que se encuentra en los asientos ventilados del F-150, funciona con una batería recargable y portátil, lo que ayuda a mantener el respirador en uso constante por parte de los defensores de primera línea.

El equipo de desarrollo espera que el diseño del respirador cumpla con el protocolo pendiente de uso limitado del Instituto Nacional para la Seguridad y Salud Ocupacional (NIOSH) para responder a la emergencia de salud pública de COVID-19, con aprobación anticipada para fines de abril.

En espera de aprobación, 3M distribuirá los PAPR recientemente diseñados a través de su red de EE. UU. para ayudar a llevar estas tecnologías de manera rápida y eficiente a los trabajadores del cuidado de la salud que las necesitan con urgencia. 3M y Ford donarán cualquier beneficio que obtengan de la venta del PAPR a organizaciones sin fines de lucro relacionadas con COVID-19.

Producción de Máscaras Faciales

Mientras tanto, Ford ahora fabrica máscaras faciales para uso interno a nivel mundial y busca la certificación para uso médico de su Planta de Transmisión Van Dyke. Las máscaras faciales pueden ayudar a retrasar la propagación del virus y ayudar a las personas que pueden tener el virus y que no lo saben a través de la transmisión a otros.

Los CDC ahora están alentando a todos los residentes de EE. UU. a usar máscaras para frenar la propagación del virus.

Los equipos globales de fabricación y compras de Ford obtuvieron rápidamente los materiales y equipos necesarios de su red de fabricantes de equipos en todo el mundo. La producción comenzó a principios de esta semana.

Aproximadamente 30 voluntarios pagados de la UAW comenzarán a hacer máscaras en el salón de limpieza ISO Clase 8 de la planta, que es un ambiente controlado con niveles extremadamente bajos de contaminantes, lo que permite la producción segura de máscaras faciales para uso médico. Eventualmente, aproximadamente 80 voluntarios pagados de la UAW harán máscaras a medida que aumente la producción.

“Los miembros de la UAW Ford continúan intensificando y se ofrecen como voluntarios para trabajar durante este momento difícil a medida que nos expandimos en las instalaciones frente a Flat Rock para hacer respiradores y en la Planta de Transmisión Van Dyke para hacer máscaras faciales para uso médico”, dijo Gerald Kariem, vicepresidente del Departamento de Ford de la UAW. “La UAW también continúa trabajando con Ford para seguir las estrictas pautas de los CDC e ir más allá de las protecciones para estos miembros que se enorgullecen voluntariamente de servir a sus comunidades y su nación”.

Producción de Batas

Para ayudar a proteger aún más a los trabajadores del cuidado de la salud, Ford lidera los esfuerzos para fabricar batas reutilizables con el proveedor de bolsas de aire Joyson Safety Systems. El proyecto go-fast ha creado batas reutilizables fabricadas con material utilizado para fabricar bolsas de aire en vehículos Ford.

La producción de batas alcanzará las 75,000 piezas a la semana para el domingo y escalará hasta 100,000 batas para la semana del 19 de abril y en lo adelante. Para el 4 de julio, Joyson Safety Systems, proveedor de Ford, cortará y coserá 1.3 millones de batas, que se auto prueba según las normas federales y ser lavable hasta 50 veces.

Ford trabajó con Beaumont Health en Metro Detroit para diseñar rápidamente el patrón de la bata y probar el tamaño durante los ensayos de ajuste y función. Más de 5,000 batas ya han sido entregadas al hospital.

“La necesidad de proteger a nuestros equipos médicos se agudiza: la producción de batas de Ford no podría llegar en un mejor momento durante esta crisis”, dijo David Claeys, presidente de los hospitales Beaumont Health en Dearborn y Farmington Hills. “Nuestros trabajadores del cuidado de la salud de primera línea están trabajando las 24 horas del día para tratar a los pacientes de COVID-19 y necesitamos los suministros necesarios para apoyarlos”.

Kits de Recolección para Pruebas COVID-19

Ford está ayudando a escalar la producción de kits de recolección para pruebas COVID-19 en Thermo Fisher Scientific.

El equipo de ingeniería de Thermo Fisher en el sitio de la compañía en Lenexa, Kansas, se dio cuenta de que su experiencia, combinada con la experiencia en fabricación del equipo de ingeniería de la Planta de Ensamblaje de Ford, en Kansas City, podría ayudar a establecer maquinaria adicional de producción de kits de recolección. El equipo de Ford también ayudó a Thermo Fisher a adaptar la maquinaria que actualmente produce viales de vidrio para otros productos para producir viales de plástico necesarios en la recolección de pruebas de coronavirus en los drive-through.

“Los ingenieros de Ford aportaron una nueva perspectiva a la expansión de la producción, y juntos, más del triple del número de kits de recolección que podemos entregar cada semana a partir del 20 de abril”, dijo John Reuss, director sénior del negocio de microbiología de Thermo Fisher. “Es genial ver diferentes industrias que se unen para resolver un problema común, y lo repito textualmente.

Esfuerzos Adicionales

“Estamos haciendo todo lo posible para ampliar la producción y disponibilidad de equipos de protección personal para ayudar a mantener a los verdaderos héroes – personal médico – y nuestras comunidades seguras en la lucha contra COVID-19”, dijo Adrian Price, director de Global Core Engineering for Vehicle Manufacturing.

Ford también continúa fabricando escudos transparentes de cara completa para los trabajadores médicos. Hasta el 13 de abril, Ford había producido más de 3 millones de escudos faciales para el personal médico y los socorristas. Además de los Estados Unidos, la producción de escudos faciales también ha comenzado a nivel mundial en las instalaciones de Ford en Canadá y Tailandia y con el socio de la empresa conjunta de Ford Mahindra & Mahindra en la India.

El trabajo en la Planta de Componentes en Rawsonville (Mich.) está en marcha para transformar una parte de la planta para fabricar un respirador de terceros, en colaboración con GE Healthcare, con la producción prevista para comenzar la semana del 20 de abril. Fabricado por voluntarios pagados de UAW, el objetivo es producir 50,000 ventiladores Modelo A-E para el 4 de julio para ayudar a los pacientes de COVID-19.

Las actividades de preproducción de respiradores también están en marcha en el Reino Unido, donde Ford y un consorcio de la industria se están preparando para hacer respiradores de Penlon. Ford proporciona capacidad de ingeniería de fabricación, liderazgo de proyectos, soporte de compra y montaje de los respiradores en su planta de motores Dagenham. Esta producción ayudará a satisfacer la demanda de 15,000 respiradores ordenados por el gobierno del Reino Unido.

Otras empresas e individuos que estén interesados en contribuir a este esfuerzo pueden enviar su información aquí en www.fordnewideas.com.