The Strategist

Toyota to shut down three plants due to new COVID-19 strain



12/23/2020 - 04:32



Toyota Motor has had to close three of its plants in the UK and France due to a new strain of the coronavirus detected in Britain and the resulting border closures.



© Jorge Quinteros
© Jorge Quinteros
According to The Japan Times, the carmaker has decided to send a plant in northern France and an engine plant near Chester, UK, on New Year's break two days earlier than planned. 

Workers in both plants will begin their holidays this Thursday, December 24. Another plant in the country will stop working a day earlier than planned: on Wednesday, December 23. 

At the same time, all three plants are expected to resume full operations as per the staff schedule after the end of the holidays.

Last week a new strain of the coronavirus was detected in the UK, which local authorities and the World Health Organisation (WHO) say is spreading faster than usual. 

Restrictions have been tightened in London and the south-east of England, with residents banned from sleeping out of their homes and meeting more than one person in public places. Several dozen countries have suspended flights to the UK following reports of a new mutation of the coronavirus.

source: japantimes.co.jp