A third worker from Ford Motor Co.'s Livonia Transmission plant has died from coronavirus, the UAW has confirmed.

This is the 8th confirmed death of a Ford employee stricken by the respiratory illness and the 21st confirmed death for the Detroit Three automakers since March 22.

"We regret to report it, and our thoughts are with his family and coworkers at this difficult time," said UAW spokesman Brian Rothenberg on Sunday.

Ford confirmed the death and in a statement spokesperson Kelli Felker said, "We are saddened that another Ford team member has passed away after contracting COVID-19. It is a tragic reminder that the coronavirus crisis is everywhere and requires the attention of all of us. Our thoughts are with their families, friends and co-workers during this difficult time."

Felker added that nothing is "more important than the health and safety of our workforce, dealers, customers and communities. We will continue to follow the guidance from global health experts to do all we can to keep our people healthy."

A private UAW Local 182 Facebook page included a post about the death, "We lost a great friend and brother, and one of the best dads I have ever had the privilege to know." The deceased man was described as a dedicated family man.

The Livonia Transmission facility is currently idle, the UAW said. Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles began rolling shut downs of their U.S. operations between mid-March and the end of the month to protect workers from the disease.

It is unclear where the deceased worker contracted the highly contagious virus. The auto companies are monitoring when employees have been exposed and who might need to be notified for potential quarantine. Factory workers in many situations have worked physically close to one another.

To date, FCA has had 13 deaths of employees diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. Neither General Motors nor the UAW have confirmed any GM employee deaths associated with the virus.

The UAW or company officials have confirmed the following 21 deaths since March 22:

Three FCA workers from Sterling Heights Assembly Plant

An FCA worker from the Kokomo Transmission Plant in Indiana

Three FCA workers from Warren Truck

An FCA worker from FCA Transport in Sterling Heights

Two FCA workers from MOPAR parts distribution center in Center Line

An FCA worker from the Warren Stamping Plant

An FCA worker from the Chelsea Proving Grounds

An FCA non-union employee at the company's Auburn Hills offices

A Ford worker in skilled trades from the Ford Data Center in Dearborn

A Ford worker from Dearborn Diversified Manufacturing Plant in Dearborn

A Ford worker from Dearborn Stamping

A Ford worker from Michigan Assembly in Wayne

Three Ford workers from the Livonia Transmission Plant

A Ford worker from the Chicago Assembly Plant

More:FCA worker, third at Warren Truck, dies after coronavirus diagnosis

More:Ford confirms 7th UAW worker death after coronavirus diagnosis

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.