The list of car manufacturers that have already closed, or will be closing their doors has been given a new name, this time unwillingly. However, if the majority of companies in the interests of the safety of customers and employees have voluntarily opted for the temporary closure of the factories, this does not apply to the American Tesla brand. The California authorities have taken care of the closure of the latter.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, even on Monday, when the COVID-19 outbreak was already here, had on Twitter, pointed out that the virus panic would ultimately cause more damage than the disease itself. He also said that the increased amount of resources to combat the virus will mean less expenditure for other purposes and the treatment of more dangerous diseases. So on Monday, he announced that the Freemont plant will remain open with the fact that no one has ever been infected with a new virus in the workforce. In doing so, he advised his employees to stay at home in case of ill-feeling.

Obviously, Musk's plans for the company, which is facing particularly tense times, because they are just getting ready to start production on the model Y, are not going to be realized. The sheriff of Alamenda County has ordered a three-week quarantine and self-isolation of the population, which means that all companies whose operations are not necessary for their public survival will also have to temporarily close their doors. The company will, for the duration of the closure only be allowed to work with 'minimum activity', which includes a concern for the safety of the facilities, maintenance of the building and activities for the well-being of the workers.

Musk has not yet responded to the sheriff's decision, but it will certainly be quite a blow to him. The Freemont plant has an annual production capacity of over 400,000 vehicles, and this is the second factory in recent days that it will have to close. The same measure has already taken place in Singapore.