Has Corona come to Canary Wharf?

AN EMPLOYEE OF THE US oil company Chevron turned up for work at its Canary Wharf office today – suffering from flu-like symptoms. The employee had recently returned to the UK after a visit to a part of the world where the Corona virus is prevalent.

Managers told the employee to go and have tests. They also sent the entire workforce home, asking them to work remotely until the test results were obtained. When the test results come back, the company will advise the workforce of around 300 staff whether to return to the office.

Chevron issued a statement saying that the lockdown of its E14 office was a precaution aimed at minimising the risk to their staff of being explosed to the new virus. It explained: “Chevron continues to monitor the situation very closely, utilizing the guidance of international and local health authorities.”

•Crossrail has offices in the same building and joined in the “precautionary measures” – asking its staff to stay away from the office too. Canary Wharf managers suggested that the move was unduly cautious and drew attention to Public Health England guidance, which states that buildings need not be evacuated unless or until individuals tested positive. The BBC has reported that only 0.002% of tests in the UK are currently returning a positive result.

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