A member of staff based in the London office of Deloitte has tested positive for the coronavirus and is now being treated in hospital
Employees at the Big Four firm were told about the instance of Covid-19 yesterday after the individual returned from a trip to Asia.
A deep clean of one floor of Deloitte’s flagship offices at 1 New Street Square behind Fleet Street in central London was immediately conducted in an attempt to mitigate risks to any staff, although the offices have not been closed.
Deloitte has five buildings on New Street Square. Staff on the affected floor were sent home and given the option to work remotely.
The member of staff is now being treated in a London hospital.
A Deloitte UK spokesperson said: ‘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.
‘One of the floors in our offices has recently been impacted, with a member of staff being confirmed with Covid-19 after returning from a personal trip to Asia. The member of staff is now in hospital and receiving good care.
‘We have taken precautionary measures based on our firm-wide guidelines and advice from Public Health England.
‘We continue to monitor the situation and will adjust our guidance as necessary.’
The latest figures on coronavirus in the UK released by Public Health England indicate that cases have more than doubled in the last 24 hours to 85. As of 4 March, a total of 16,659 people have been tested in the UK, of which 16,574 were confirmed negative.
The coronavirus is beginning to have an impact of business with exhibition companies cancelling trade shows, including the world’s biggest travel show, IBT, which was due to open in Berlin yesterday and was pulled last Friday, leaving visitors and exhibitors without compensation. The show was expected to have 180,000 visitors with more than 10,000 exhibitors.
A number of London-based companies have also been affected by potential coronavirus scares, including law firm Baker McKenzie, whose staff member tested negative, although the offices were closed temporarily. Sony has also closed its London office after an employee returned from overseas having visited one of the affected areas. So far no staff at the firm have actually tested positive for the virus.
By Sara White
Essential reading
Marshall: impacts of coronavirus on financial reporting
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Coronavirus Toolkit
Croner-i produces a special Coronavirus Toolkit with step-by-step guidance for employers including tips on emergency management, recovery planning, self isolation and sick pay