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London firms sending staff home amid coronavirus fears London firms sending staff home amid coronavirus fears
(30 minutes later)
Crossrail and media firm OMD have joined oil giant Chevron in asking staff to work from home as a precaution against coronavirus. Three firms in London have now asked staff to work from home as a precaution against coronavirus.
Chevron has asked 300 staff not to come into its office at Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf "for the time being". Oil giant Chevron has asked 300 staff not to come into its office in Canary Wharf "for the time being".
A Chevron employee reported flu-like symptoms after returning from a country where there have been cases of the disease. Crossrail, which shares the same building as Chevron, and media firm OMD, based in central London, have also asked staff to stay away.
Crossrail shares the same Westferry building. OMD's office is in Fitzrovia. The real estate company that manages Canary Wharf suggested the firms had reacted with "an abundance of caution".
It "strongly encouraged" its tenants to adhere to advice from Public Health England, which says there is no need to send staff home, as most possible cases turn out to be negative.
PHE says even if there is a confirmed case of coronavirus they do not recommend closing the workplace.
OMD, which is part of Omnicom Media Group, said an employee reported symptoms after returning from Australia with a flight connection through Singapore.OMD, which is part of Omnicom Media Group, said an employee reported symptoms after returning from Australia with a flight connection through Singapore.
The firm said the chance that it was the coronavirus was minimal but that it was asking staff to work from home "as a precautionary measure, and until definitive results of the employee's coronavirus test is confirmed".The firm said the chance that it was the coronavirus was minimal but that it was asking staff to work from home "as a precautionary measure, and until definitive results of the employee's coronavirus test is confirmed".
Staff at Chevron's Canary Wharf office, which mainly engages in downstream oil and gas products trading, have also been asked to work from home.Staff at Chevron's Canary Wharf office, which mainly engages in downstream oil and gas products trading, have also been asked to work from home.
The Chevron employee concerned spent the weekend skiing in Italy, a coronavirus hotspot, then returned to work on Monday. They started feeling unwell and did not go to work on Tuesday. The Chevron employee concerned spent the weekend skiing in Italy, a coronavirus hotspot, then returned to work on Monday.
Following NHS advice, the employee reported to hospital to be tested for Covid-19 and is awaiting the results. They started feeling unwell and did not go to work on Tuesday. Following NHS advice, the employee reported to hospital to be tested for the infection and is awaiting the results.
'Precautionary measures' Chevron said it would continue to monitor the situation very closely but in the meantime was taking precautionary measures to reduce its employees "risk of exposure".
The firm said: "Chevron continues to monitor the situation very closely, utilising the guidance of international and local health authorities. In other developments in the UK:
"Our primary concern is the health and safety of our employees and we are taking precautionary measures to reduce their risk of exposure. Other firms have taken precautions to protect staff from the risk of catching the coronavirus.
"Consequently, we have requested that our colleagues, based at our Westferry Circus office in London, work from home for the time being. It is our policy to not provide details of our employees." BP has delayed all non-essential business travel to China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Singapore until further notice. Investment bank Goldman Sachs has told staff who have returned from affected areas to self-isolate even if they show no symptoms.
The staff will continue to work from home while the firm waits for guidance from doctors. Josh Hardie, CBI deputy director-general, said firms should follow official government guidance.
Many other firms have taken precautions to protect staff from the risk of catching the coronavirus.
BP, for example has delayed all non-essential business travel to China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Singapore until further notice, and staff who have been to affected areas and are showing flu-like symptoms have been told not to come to work.
Investment bank Goldman Sachs has told staff which have returned from affected areas to self isolate even if they show no symptoms.
Josh Hardie, CBI deputy director-general, said firms must follow official government guidance.
"In a fast-evolving situation, businesses will be mindful of the potential risks. The health of employees must be their first consideration, as well as the potential impact on their operations," he added."In a fast-evolving situation, businesses will be mindful of the potential risks. The health of employees must be their first consideration, as well as the potential impact on their operations," he added.
Coronavirus has caused widespread disruption around the world. The new coronavirus strain, which causes Covid-19, has caused widespread disruption around the world. Businesses and factories across China have been disrupted since January and the disease has spread to 27 other countries, including the UK.
This particular coronavirus infection, which can cause severe lung disease, started in China and has spread to 27 other countries, including the UK.
Based on data from 44,000 patients with this coronavirus, the World Health Organization says:Based on data from 44,000 patients with this coronavirus, the World Health Organization says:
On Tuesday, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that Britons returning from quarantined Italian towns should isolate themselves, even if they have no symptoms.On Tuesday, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that Britons returning from quarantined Italian towns should isolate themselves, even if they have no symptoms.
Workers who are ill are entitled to statutory sick pay. But the law says that if you stay away from work but aren't sick, you may not get paid.Workers who are ill are entitled to statutory sick pay. But the law says that if you stay away from work but aren't sick, you may not get paid.