By David Shepardson

(Reuters) – General Motors Co, Ford Motor (NYSE) Co, and Stellantis NV Chrysler parent Stellantis NV announced on Sunday that they would be reintroducing the requirement that all employees in southeastern Michigan are required to wear masks. This area is home to high levels COVID-19.

Detroit Three Automakers stated in March that they would permit auto workers to remove masks from workplaces where U.S. officials have declared it safe.

The automakers stated that in October, they would follow revised guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This will allow workers at U.S. facilities, regardless of COVID-19 vaccine status, to stop wearing masks if these facilities aren’t located in high risk counties.

These masking guidelines, which were issued February 19, shifted the emphasis from COVID-19 infection rate to local hospitalizations, capacity and infection rates.

The CDC lists six counties of southeastern Michigan – Wayne Oakland Macomb Macomb and Washtenaw – as having high COVID-19. These counties are recommended by the CDC to wear masks inside public spaces.

Ford stated that it would temporarily reinstate a requirement for a facial mask at its plants in high-risk areas by the CDC.

Stellantis announced that from Monday employees, contractors, and visitors to all Stellantis facilities will have to use company-issued facial masks. According to Stellantis, the company stated that it is likely the new requirement will remain in effect for at least the next two weeks.

GM stated that it would implement COVID protection measures in Oakland, Wayne and Livingston counties, as the CDC now considers them high-risk.

According to the United Auto Workers union, if a facility is found in high-risk areas as determined by CDC they will need masking and physical separation.

GM, Ford, and Stellantis have headquarters in Wayne County. Stellantis has its North American headquarters in Oakland County. All three companies have many factories throughout southeastern Michigan.

The CDC says 4.25% of U.S. counties https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view?list_select_state=all_states&list_select_county=all_counties&data-type=CommunityLevels&null= are currently listed as having high levels of COVID-19.