Boeing has announced that the company will resume all Commercial Airplanes production in a phased approach at its Puget Sound-region facilities next week, after suspending operations last month in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company announced on Friday.

“This phased approach ensures we have a reliable supply base, our personal protective equipment is readily available and we have all of the necessary safety measures in place to resume essential work for our customers,” said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes and senior executive in the Pacific Northwest.

Boeing has taken additional precautions and instituted comprehensive procedures to keep people safe and fight the spread of COVID-19 at all of the company’s sites. Approximately 27,000 people in the Puget Sound area will return to production of the 747, 767, 777 and 787 programs, supporting critical global transportation infrastructure, cargo services and national defense and security missions.

The company’s practices reinforce enhanced cleaning, employee health and physical distancing in partnership with employees. Aligned with federal and state guidelines, including staggering shift start times to reduce the flow of employees arriving and departing work and visual controls like floor markings and signage to create physical distance.

In addition, employees will be required to wear face coverings at Boeing sites in Washington. The company will provide required personal protective equipment to employees working in areas where physical distancing cannot be maintained for an extended period and Boeing will ask employees to perform self-health checks before coming to work and to stay home if they are ill.

Employee wellness checks at the beginning of every shift and voluntary temperature screening at many manufacturing locations and contact tracing will be implemented when an employee tests positive for COVID-19 to reduce risk to teammates. Boeing will continue virtual meetings and employees who can work from home will continue to do so.

Enhanced measures will continue until conditions allow for a return to regular work and cleaning processes. Boeing will continue to monitor government guidance on COVID-19, assess the impact on company operations and adjust plans as the situation evolves.

About Boeing

Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As the top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries.

Boeing employs more than 150,000 people worldwide and leverages the talents of a global supplier base. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth.

Census experts held a telephone briefing to discuss with House Oversight and Reform Committee members the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the 2020 Census and the White House’s call for Congress to delay key aspects of the count.

John Thompson, former director of the Census Bureau, said the bureau must be transparent to Congress “on how they spend their money, on how their recruiting is going, and if they need any change in regulation,” according to the House panel’s news release published Wednesday.

Arturo Vargas, CEO of NALEO Educational Fund; John Yang, president and executive director of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice; and Terri Ann Lowenthal, a leading Census consultant; joined Thompson during the briefing. Lowenthal discussed the delay in the census and its impact on data accuracy, while Yang and Vargas recommended ways to advance self-response options.

“The Committee will carefully examine the Administration’s request for Congress to pass a law delaying Census deadlines, but as these experts all agreed, the Census Bureau must work with Congress to provide a clear and robust plan to ensure that every person in America will be counted, including those in hard-to-reach communities,” said Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.).

James Geurts, assistant secretary of the U.S. Navy for research, development and acquisition and 2020 Wash100 Award winner, said the service is revising its business procedures amid the current health crisis, National Defense Magazine reported Wednesday.

Geurts told attendees at the virtual Sea-Air-Space conference that the Navy is “understanding how to collaborate better” while working to expedite research and development activities through partnerships with academic entities.

He added that the Navy is implementing a distributed research framework to allow concurrent operations between multiple organizations. The service is additionally deploying a three-phase approach to prevent program delays and accelerate contract awards, said Geurts.

“What we can’t afford to do is take a year or two off of research and development, lose those key performers because they are key to our readiness five and 10 years from now,” he noted. “We’re looking to be as aggressive with them, if not more so, than we are with our more traditional defense partners.”