CLEVELAND — Manufacturers in Northeast Ohio have sent a letter to President Trump.

Eighty-three companies employing more than 18,000 people signed on to the letter sent Friday.

They are concerned the federal government may consider closing manufacturing plants in light of the new coronavirus pandemic.

They say a shutdown would be devastating to the industry and our nation’s supply chain.

A number of local manufacturers are making products used to fight the disease— like disinfectants and tooling to make ventilators.

They say they are taking extraordinary steps to protect the health of their employees right now, and are asking the federal and state governments to adopt a set of “best practice guidelines” to maximize safety while preserving jobs.

We will keep an eye on it and let you know as soon as they get a response.

Additional Coronavirus information and resources:

Read our daily Coronavirus Live Blog for the latest updates and news on coronavirus.

Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Ohio, a timeline of Governor Mike DeWine's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Northeast Ohio, and link to more information from the Ohio Department of Health, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, the CDC and the WHO.

View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.

Here is everything you need to know about testing for coronavirus in Ohio.

Here's a list of things in Northeast Ohio closed due to coronavirus concerns

See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.