Major Tech Firms Send Bay Area and Seattle Workers Home Over Coronavirus
Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Google instruct employees in the Bay Area and Seattle to work remotely as coronavirus cases rise. The companies prioritize health and safety by canceling business travel and deep cleaning facilities.
Major technology companies including Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Google tell their employees in the Bay Area and Seattle to work from home due to growing coronavirus fears. Apple specifically requests that its Apple Park Campus staff stay home as COVID-19 cases multiply in California, though it remains unclear if this mandate extends beyond Friday. Facebook, Amazon, and Google similarly recommend that their Seattle-area staff work remotely following 14 confirmed deaths in the region.
Facebook makes its decision after consulting with health officials from Santa Clara County to minimize the risk of spreading the virus. A company spokesperson states that the health and safety of their teams, loved ones, and neighbors remains a top priority. Despite the broad work-from-home directive, Facebook asks certain employees and contractors who work on safety and security platforms to continue coming into the office.
To further protect its workforce, Facebook cancels all business travel in and out of the Bay Area and shuts down all scheduled local events. For the staff who still need to be on-site, the company implements daily deep cleaning and sanitizing protocols across its facilities. These sweeping operational changes reflect a rapid shift in how major tech giants handle public health emergencies.