Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon Tell Workers to Stay Home Because of Coronavirus

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Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon told employees in Seattle to stay home yesterday as novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread throughout the Emerald City.

  • Are over 60
  • Have an underlying health condition (heart disease, diabetes, etc.)
  • Are immune system compromised
  • Are pregnant

The company advised people who do come into the office to take certain precautions, such as staying at least 6 feet away from other people, keeping in-person meetings as short as possible and not going to work if they feel sick.

Microsoft's decision arrived shortly after King County officials released new recommendations for handling COVID-19 after 10 more people were diagnosed with it. More information about the recommendations are available here.

Facebook closed its Seattle office entirely after a contractor was diagnosed with COVID-19. It currently plans to re-open the office on March 9; presumably it will use the intervening days to make a sanitation sweep of the entire work floor.

Amazon followed Microsoft in advising employees who can work from home to do so. It's being a bit more cautious, however, in extending the work-from-home period until March 31 (likely because one Amazon employee already contracted COVID-19).

Nathaniel Mott
Freelance News & Features Writer

Nathaniel Mott is a freelance news and features writer for Tom's Hardware US, covering breaking news, security, and the silliest aspects of the tech industry.

  • Spaceghaze
    The company advised people who do come into the office to take certain precautions, such as staying at least 6 feet away from other people, keeping in-person meetings as short as possible and not going to work if they feel sick.

    So basically what i normally do at work. :tearsofjoy:

    Anyway, at my company they actually check everyone at the gates with forehead thermometers for fever.
    Reply