Ford Motor and Normal Motors have instructed workers who can work at home to take action starting Monday as a result of coronavirus outbreak that's now spreading by way of the U.S.

The brand new tips apply globally, excluding China, however don't embrace manufacturing unit employees or those that should bodily be current to do their duties. The insurance policies are anticipated to use for almost all of salaried employees, firm officers mentioned. Ford employs 190,000 folks globally, together with 66,800 salaried workers. GM employs about 168,000 folks, together with 70,000 salaried workers.

The protocols come days after Michigan, the place each automakers have main operations, confirmed its first circumstances of COVID-19. It is also a day after crosstown rival Fiat Chrysler confirmed an worker at a plant in Indiana had contracted the illness.

Shares of GM and Ford had been up about 3% and a couple of% whereas...