City worker tests positive for coronavirus

A CITY of London worker has tested positive for the coronavirus, it emerged last night.

Deloitte emailed staff to say an employee has tested positive for Covid-19 after visiting Asia.

The company offered workers the option to work from home as their colleague was being treated in hospital.

One floor of the company’s London office was being deep-cleaned according to an email sent by chief executive, Richard Houston yesterday in which he did not advise staff to avoid the New Street Square premises.

Around 20,000 staff work in Deloitte’s UK offices. Mr Houston said the company is liaising with Public Health England and acknowledged that the news might be “unsettling” for some.

Mr Houston said: “We’ve just received confirmation that a colleague… has tested positive for Covid-19. Following the diagnosis they are now in hospital and receiving good care.”

A spokesperson told The Financial Times: “Deloitte has been closely monitoring and managing the Covid-19 situation in order to respond as necessary.

The health and safety of our people and clients is our top priority.”

Last week, Chevron instructed its 300 London employees to work from home. On Saturday it said an employee in its Canary Wharf office in London who reported a flu-like illness tested negative for the virus.

Companies across the UK have begun instructing employees to work from home.

The government is advising businesses to arrange for an increase in video conferencing, to allow employees to work remotely and to restrict “non-essential” business travel.