Detroit’s Big Three automakers have agreed to temporarily shut down all their North American factories because of the Covid-19 coronavirus, reports the Associated Press, citing “two people briefed on the matter.”

Ford and General Motors made it official on Wednesday, with GM saying that the decision will be re-evaluated after March 30.

Fiat Chrysler did not immediately confirm the decision.

“Leaders from the companies and the United Auto Workers will work together on plans to restart production in compliance with social distancing protocols among workers, including at shift change times, and to maximize cleaning times between shifts changes,” reports Politico.

The shutdown has already begun.

Ford closed an assembly plant in suburban Detroit on Wednesday after a worker there tested positive for the virus.

When the shutdown process is complete it will idle about 150,000 workers.

“They likely will receive supplemental pay in addition to state unemployment benefits,” the AP says. “The two checks combined will about equal what the workers normally make.”

Leaders of the United Auto Workers Union have been pushing for the factory closures because of growing fear among union members that they would be exposed to the virus.

“UAW President Rory Gamble called the temporary shutdown ‘prudent,’ giving leaders time to ‘review best practices’ to prevent the spread of the virus,” Politico says.