Google India employee in Bengaluru tests positive for coronavirus
A Google India spokesperson confirmed that an employee from its Bengaluru office has been diagnosed with COVID-19. It has also asked its employees in the Bengaluru office to work from home on Friday amid the coronavirus pandemic.
A Google India employee in Bengaluru has tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and the company on Friday asked its staff to work from work as a precautionary measure for the day.
"We can confirm that an employee from our Bengaluru office has been diagnosed with COVID-19. They were in one of our Bengaluru offices for a few hours before developing any symptoms," a Google spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that the employee has been on quarantine since then, and the company has asked colleagues who were in close contact with the employee to quarantine themselves and monitor their health.
It has also asked employees in the Bengaluru office to work from home on Friday, the spokesperson said. "We have taken and will continue to take all necessary precautionary measures, following the advice of public health officials, as we prioritise everyone's health and safety."
The Bengaluru office is among the oldest facilities of the company in India and houses hundreds of engineering staff. The company did not comment on the number of employees in the facility.
In the past few days, employees of various IT firms like Mindtree and Dell have tested positive for coronavirus.
Many companies are now asking employees to work from home, and use technologies like telepresence and video conferencing to ensure business continuity.
Recently, ride-hailing unicorn Uber has said that based on recommendations of local public health authorities, it may restrict driver's and passenger's access to the platform if they test positive for coronavirus.
"Drivers and delivery people in these situations will receive compensation for a period of up to 14 days. This has already begun in some markets and we are working to implement mechanisms to do this worldwide. We believe this is the right thing to do," Andrew Macdonald, Senior Vice President - Rides and Platform, , said.
More than 1,30,000 cases of the novel coronavirus have been recorded in 116 countries and territories, killing at least 4,900 people. The number of coronavirus patients in India has risen to 75, as per health ministry records.
(Edited by Suman Singh)
