Grab suspends offices in Singapore and Thailand after COVID-19 case

March 10, 2020 | 11:01

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Grab will temporarily suspend its offices in Singapore and Thailand for the next five days after one of its Singapore-based employees have been diagnosed positive for COVID-19.

The person has travelled to Thailand and visited Grab’s office in Bangkok.

“One employee who is based in our corporate office at Marina One West Tower in Singapore has come down with COVID-19,” Grab said on Monday in an emailed statement. “The employee tested positive on March 7 and is currently in hospital receiving treatment.”

grab suspends offices in singapore and thailand after covid 19 case

Grab has temporarily suspended its office in Singapore and Thailand for the next five days after an employee tested positive for COVID-19

Grab’s temporary closure came as a precautionary measure to contain the contagion. In case the effort proves ineffective, staff will be asked to work from home as the last resort.

Previously, the Singapore-based office of technology giant Facebook in Marina confirmed an employee has been diagnosed with the virus. Thus, Facebook also suspended operations in the Marina office for disinfection, while other employees are encouraged to work from home until March 13.

The company also shut down its London offices for a short time for disinfection because the infected employee had visited in February.

As of March 9, Singapore recorded 150 positive cases, though scores have recovered, according to Bloomberg.

Last week, Amazon cautioned staff of the first confirmed COVID-19 case among its US workforce. An employee at the company's South Lake Union headquarters went sick on February 25 and is now in quarantine, The Sun reported.

By Minh Luu

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