Coronavirus: Facebook, Google, Amazon Ask Staff To Work From Home

Major Tech companies have asked their employees based in Seattle to work from home to prevent the spread of the novel Coronavirus.

Both Amazon and Facebook have shut down offices in the area after confirming that their Seattle-based employees have indeed contracted COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

As the outbreak continues to spread in the US, including in California and New York, the situation has worsened in Washington where the virus was first discovered Stateside. The state now has at least 70 confirmed cases and 10 deaths.

Here are the work-from-home policies for some Seattle tech company offices that The Verge is aware of:

• Amazon has told employees based in Seattle and nearby Bellevue that it recommends employees work from home until the end of March, according to CNBC. The recommendation comes after Amazon confirmed on March 2nd that one of its Seattle-based employees was quarantined with the novel coronavirus. That employee left work on February 25th and hasn’t returned.
• Google is asking employees in Washington state who have the ability to work remotely to do so, reports GeekWire. It’s also asking employees not to bring visitors to its Washington-based offices.
• Facebook has shut down one of its Seattle offices after a contractor tested positive for novel coronavirus, and it’s encouraging the company’s 5,000 Seattle-based employees to work from home until March 31st, according to CNBC. That office will reportedly remain closed until Monday. Facebook has also restricted social visitors to its offices.