Caterpillar Inc. reported Thursday, March 26th in an official release that they are considering closing factories should the coronavirus pandemic spread further in the coming weeks. In the release, the company stated that their supply chain has already been affected by the outbreak as businesses all over the country are closing to slow the spread of the virus and social distancing measures prevent much construction work, though it is still considered essential work. Caterpillar also stated that they may be redistributing some of their supplies and are considering alternative sources to prioritize essential parts. The release states, “The magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic … cannot be reasonably estimated at this time due to the rapid development and fluidity of the situation,…It will be determined by the duration of the pandemic, its geographic spread, business disruptions and the overall impact on the global economy.”
