S’pore Facebook Employee Diagnosed With Covid-19, Company Closes Part Of Local Office

Facebook Closes Part Of Marina One Office After Employee Diagnosed With Covid-19

Update (7 Mar, 5.50pm)

According to a Facebook spokesperson, the employee was only in the Singapore office on Friday (28 Feb) in the last 14 days and has not been back to the office since.

All employees based on floors 17-19 were asked to work from home until Friday (13 Mar), which is the end of the incubation period.

Facebook’s office will be closed until Monday (9 Mar).

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As Covid-19 continues spreading across the world, many large companies have been plagued by the virus, forcing them to disinfect premises and its employees to work from home. Facebook, the social media giant, is the latest MNC to be affected.

An employee who works in Facebook’s Singapore office at Marina One was confirmed to be a Covid-19 case on Friday (6 Mar), according to a report by Channel NewsAsia (CNA).

Facebook’s Marina One Office
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In response, Facebook immediately closed the affected areas for deep cleaning. The social media company also advised employees based in affected areas to work from home until 13 Mar.

Facebook’s London office closed as well

Apart from the Singapore office, the infected employee also visited Facebook’s London offices between 24-26 Feb.

According to Business Insider, the company will temporarily shut all 3 of its London offices for deep cleaning until Monday (9 Mar). Employees have been told to work from home during this time.

Entrance to Facebook’s Rathborne office in London
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The report also states that Facebook is reaching out to staff in other offices who may have visited the London office in the last few days.

Covid-19 on the rise globally

With the global number of Covid-19 cases rising above 100,000, the pandemic is not showing signs of abating. To date, the new coronavirus has spread across more than 90 countries, and over 3,400 people have died.

Global map of Covid-19 spread
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While no deaths have been reported in Singapore yet, it is inevitable that one will succumb to the coronavirus. We hope this isn’t the case, but should still be prepared nevertheless.

Meanwhile, we are heartened by Facebook’s ‘leave no stone unturned’ response to the virus. Let’s hope it proves effective in curbing the potential spread of the virus.

Featured image adapted from The Times.