Facebook, Apple are encouraging Bay Area workers to stay at home

As concerns about coronavirus spreading among large gatherings of people, Facebook and Apple have told all of their Bay Area employees that they should work from home in order to help contain virus that has so far infected more than 200 people around the country.

Facebook said that it is “strongly encouraging” all employees and contingent staff to work remotely, if possible. Anthony Harrison, a Facebook spokesperson, said the company made the decision after consulting with officials from Santa Clara County.

“This decision is based on our desire to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 (coronavirus),” Harrison said. “The health and safety of our teams, their loved ones and our neighbors remain a top priority.”

The company said it is asking some employees and contractors who work on Facebook safety and security platforms to still come into the office, where Facebook is implementing daily deep cleaning and sanitizing of facilities.

An Apple spokesperson confirmed that the company has asked employees at its Apple Park headquarters to work from home if at all possible. Apple didn’t provide any other details about its plans for having its employees work remotely.

Facebook has also recommended that its employees cancel all business travel within and outside of the Bay Area. Additionally, the company said it is is cancelling all of its scheduled events for the Bay Area.

Facebook had already cancelled a marketing summit that was to be held in San Francisco, in March, and its F8 developers conference, which had been scheduled for San Jose, in May.

In addition to asking Bay Area employees to work from home, Facebook also joined Amazon, Google and Microsoft in recommending their staffs in the Seattle area work remotely. There have been 14 confirmed deaths from coronavirus in the region around Seattle.