Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Twitter tell their Seattle-area employees to work from home as coronavirus spreads

Yesterday, Amazon informed its employees in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington, to work from home if they can through the end of the month. The announcement came after the e-commerce giant informed employees of the change late Wednesday, one day after Amazon confirmed that an employee who works in one of its Seattle offices tested positive for COVID-19. Amazon’s headquarter is based in Seattle, where it employs more than 2,000 people.

Other technology companies have been urging their employees to work from home amid coronavirus outbreak in the North Eastern part of the United States. Google, Microsoft, Twitter and Facebook have also asked employees in the Seattle area to work from home. “We are recommending that employees in Seattle/Bellevue who are able to work from home do so through the end of the month,” Amazon spokesperson said.

Alphabet Inc’s Google on Thursday joined Amazon.com Inc, Facebook Inc and Microsoft Corp in recommending employees in the Seattle area to work from home, after many were infected with the coronavirus in the region. Facebook recommends all of its 5,000 employees in Seattle to work from home the rest of the month, after a worker in the area tested positive for the coronavirus. Facebook is closing its Seattle office until Monday.