For every Chinese person, this Spring Festival is unusual as it is meant to be a time for reunion but this year, due to the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus, many plans were changed. To date, there are more than 9700 confirmed cases of the infection in every region of the country and 18 countries around the world. The new coronavirus has just been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization.

At Ford, the health and safety of our employees, dealers, customers, and partners are always the highest priority. A dedicated team is constantly monitoring the situation, providing employees with regular updates guidance aligned with directives from relevant government and health authorities.

All business-related travel to, from and within China is now prohibited. Local employees who have travelled to Wuhan as well as employees outside the country who have travelled to China were instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days upon their return.

Ford China has also extended the Chinese New Year holiday by two days through February 2 and currently deferred the resumption of normal business operations by another one week, to February 10. To the fullest extent possible, we are using remote working in the near term to reduce the risk of infection of employees and will continue to provide onsite support (e.g., masks, temperatures and health checks) and medical advice to the vital few employees required at work locations during this time.

In addition, Ping An insurance, the commercial insurance supplier will open accelerated “green channel” medical treatment to all local Ford employees who may be exposed to Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).  Employee medical treatment will be 100% covered without the limitations of hospital and social medical treatment scope.

Meanwhile, in keeping with our company principle of putting people first, Ford is working closely with central and regional government authorities and local NGOs to provide financial and other forms of support, focusing on the most severely affected areas in Hubei and adjacent provinces. Ford China and Ford Fund are donating a combined RMB 1 million in medical supplies through the China Red Cross Foundation. CAF is making a separate RMB 2 million donation. In addition, JMC is donating 10 Ford Transit ambulance vehicles to Wuhan.