A worker in Indiana at a Fiat Chrysler Automobiles plant has tested positive for the coronavirus, the Detroit Free Press has learned.

The infected man works at FCA's Kokomo Transmission Plant in Kokomo.

The plant, which is about 50 miles north of Indianapolis, employs about 4,000 workers, according to FCA's website.

FCA said production continues as normal and the company is working with local health authorities to support the treatment of the employee. The employee is receiving medical care, said FCA spokeswoman Jodi Tinson.

"Consistent with CDC guidelines and the company’s own protocols, the company has placed into home quarantine his immediate co-workers and others in the facility he may have come into direct contact with," said Tinson. "Additionally, the company has deep cleaned and disinfected his working area and is deploying additional sanitization measures across the entire facility, retiming break times to avoid crowding and deploying social spacing."

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Thursday morning, FCA sent out a memo to employees at the nearby Kokomo Casting Plant notifying them that a transmission plant worker tested positive and to outline to all workers the specific actions the company was taking to protect the workforce.

"All the supervisors and team leaders just came around passing out that paper," said a worker at the plant who did not want to be identified for fear of losing his job. "I seen it in person about 20 minutes ago. There doesn't seem to be any mass hysteria at least at the moment."

The Free Press obtained a copy of the memo, which in part stated, "The plant's leadership teams are working diligently to ensure the health and WELFARE safety of all our employees."

It listed the steps FCA is taking including interviewing any employees that might have been in contact with the affected man and instructing them to stay home and self-quarantine.

"Medical evaluations are currently being arranged for all potentially affected personnel," it said. "Those in contact with the affected employee will remain in quarantine until they are medically cleared to return to work."

UAW solidarity, Ford prepares

UAW leaders said they have been actively monitoring and reacting to issues related to the spread of COVID-19. The affected worker was a salaried employee represented by the UAW.

“Our thoughts and support are with our UAW member and their family, friends and community in Kokomo, Indiana," said Cindy Estrada, UAW vice president of the FCA department, in a statement to the Free Press. "We are working closely with FCA on this first discovery of the virus at one of their facilities as well as on the precautions and measures necessary to protect our UAW FCA members and everyone who works in our facilities."

Earlier this week, FCA issued communications to all employees about its process for dealing with this pandemic, Estrada said. The UAW FCA department will continue close communications with FCA on action needed during "this very serious situation changes daily and hourly."

As a reminder, Estrada said the UAW encourages all UAW members and others to wash hands frequently, use hand sanitizer frequently, avoid touching the face and avoid contact with others within 2 to 3 feet, if possible. Anyone experiencing symptoms of a high fever, dry cough or illness, should take precaution and stay home.

"We are in this in together in Solidarity," said Estrada.

A spokesman for General Motors said no employees at its factories have tested positive for coronavirus as of publication time.

A Ford Motor Co. spokesman said there are no diagnosed cases of affected workers at its plants in the United States.

He did confirm Thursday the company is testing and validating employee access and computer systems in Dearborn so that the company may run remotely, if needed.

This is “readiness” training, said spokesman T.R. Reid. The company is reviewing all protocols in terms of passwords, software requirements, access to files and sufficient bandwidth, he said.

While there were no plans as of Thursday morning to ask employees to work off site, Reid said, “We’re getting technology and people prepared. We might need the capability. And we want to make sure, especially in critical functions, we’ve got it.”

Hospitalized employee

A Howard County Health Department news release Wednesday afternoon said an unidentified adult recently tested positive for coronavirus and was hospitalized at an unknown location. This is the 10th confirmed case of COVID-19 in Indiana.

At the plant, FCA builds machining of engine block castings and transmission components as well as transmission assembly for the Dodge Journey SUV and Dodge Grand Caravan minivan. It also assembles transmissions for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Durango and Ram 1500 pickup.

Staff writers Eric D. Lawrence and Phoebe Wall Howard contributed to this report. Contact Jamie L. LaReau at 313-222-2149 or jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter.