Boeing plans to resume production of commercial airplanes in a “phased approach” at its Puget Sound-region facilities starting April 20, the company said on Thursday. The re-start of production activities at plants in Renton, Everett, Auburn, and Frederickson will come a week after a partial resumption of mainly defense program-related work and involve 27,000 employees.

Employees working on the 737, 747, 767, and 777 airliners will start returning to work on Monday, April 20. The company expects most to return by April 21. Those working on the 787 program will return on April 23 and 24. Boeing 787 production in Charleston, South Carolina will remain closed until further notice.

"The health and safety of our employees, their families and communities is our shared priority," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal. "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."

Boeing shuttered most production activity in the Puget Sound area on March 25, after Washington state declared a state of emergency due to the Covid-19 epidemic. Initial plans called for a two-week closure but the company extended the shut-down on April 5, citing its own assessment of the spread of Covid-19 in the region and further recommendations from government health authorities, as well as considerations centered on the reliability of its supply chain.

Upon re-opening, Boeing will institute staggered shift start times to reduce the flow of employees arriving and departing work, require employees to wear face coverings, provide personal protective equipment for those working in close quarters for an extended period, and conduct employee “wellness checks” at the start of each shift.

The company said it would perform contract tracing of employees testing positive for Covid-19. Employees able to work from home will continue to do so.