The Detroit Three automakers and the UAW agreed to new measures late Tuesday to protect factory workers from coronavirus, the union said.

The automakers will find ways to improve social distancing between workers at its factories andagreed to review and implement a rotating partial shutdown of facilities.

That basically means curbing production. Each company will announce its own plans, but one way would be to reduce three shifts to two shifts, which would allow more time to clean and offer less contact between workers.

"The health and safety of our workforce is our top priority," said Ford Motor Co. spokeswoman Kelli Felker. "We’re working closely with the UAW and are aiming to announce details in the next 24 hours."

General Motors spokesman Jim Cain said the details aren’t worked out, but, "You can expect each automaker will develop an approach that fits their unique situation and works to the same end, which is worker health and safety."

The automakers met with UAW leaders for several hours Tuesday evening as part of a task force the parties formed to enhance health safety at factories.

Also coming out of the meeting is an agreement to implement "extensive deep cleaning of facility and equipment between shifts, extended periods between shifts, and extensive plans to avoid member contact," the UAW said in a statement.

"They will be working on shift rotation to minimize risk," the statement read.

To enact the changes, each company will be working with UAW vice presidents and will be arranging shifts set to adhere to CDC-required social distancing and protection of members. The UAW will release more detailed information in the next 24 hours, it said.

The group was set to start talking at 6 p.m. Tuesday to discuss plant safety and addressing a hot topic — the union's request to all three that they shut down the plants entirely during the coronavirus crisis.

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"(Shutdown) is something we are trying to avoid,” said a person at GM who was familiar with preparation for the meeting. He asked to not be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media about the matter.

The UAW held three separate calls with the automakers because the companies did not want to reveal “shift strategies” to each other, said another person familiar with the call who asked to not be identified because he was not permitted to release meeting details.

GM leaders spent Tuesday afternoon studying options to increase worker safety while keeping the line humming.

Company officials also considered the impact of a shutdown beyond the economic hit to the company and worker's paychecks. Thousands of parts suppliers and dealers rely on auto manufacturing for their business revenues, too.

"So if you can continue to operate auto plants safely, you should probably do it," the person said. "As we get through this crisis, you’re at least not starting to jump start this economy cold. You have capacity still on line.”

Meanwhile, production came to a halt at Ford's Chicago Assembly plant Tuesday due to a parts supply shortage, a Ford spokesman said. Ford will provide updates as it gets resolved. That's where Ford builds the Lincoln Aviator, Ford Explorer SUVs and Interceptor, the Explorer that is outfitted for law enforcement.

Many UAW members at Detroit Three factories have reached out to the Free Press in recent days with concerns about possible exposure to coronavirus while on the job.

"We’re actually scared on the floor," said a UAW member at a Detroit Three plant. He asked not to be identified for fear of losing his job.

UAW President Rory Gamble said during the union's conversation Sunday with the car companies that union leaders requested a two-week shutdown of operations "to safeguard our members, our families, our communities."

Likewise, leaders of UAW Local 600 at Ford's Dearborn Truck Plant said they filed a written grievance against Ford on Sunday asking the company to idle the plant for two weeks.

"Your UAW leadership feels very strongly, and argued very strongly, that this is the most responsible course of action," Gamble said in a union letter. "The companies, however, were not willing to implement this request. They asked for 48 hours to put together plans to safeguard workers in their facilities."

Meanwhile, here are the auto industry employees affected by coronavirus.

An FCA employee at its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant has tested positive.

A GM employee at its Technical Center in Warren.

A Ford employee in product development in Building 5 in Dearborn.

An FCA worker at its transmission plant in Kokomo, Indiana.

At Tuesday's meeting, besides the top officers at the companies and the union, there were also the three carmakers' medical professionals to offer advice, said the person familiar with the meeting. All options were on the table, he said.

Ford announced Tuesday morning it would shut down production in its European plants effective Thursday.

FCA has closed its manufacturing operations in Europe through March 27 while keeping its plants open in the U.S.

FCA spokeswoman Jodi Tinson said there have been no production changes in the United States. A spokesman for GM also confirmed production was running normal and they were closely monitoring the situation.

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Staff writers Phoebe Wall Howard and Eric D. Lawrence 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.