US law firm Baker McKenzie orders 1,100 staff at its London office to work from home

US law firm Baker McKenzie orders 1,100 staff at its London office to work from home after employee falls ill with suspected coronavirus

  • Law firm Baker McKenize has ordered its staff at London HQ to work from home
  • A staff member from the firm returned from Northern Italy before feeling unwell 
  • Has your workplace closed following coronavirus fears? Contact: Emily.Webber@mailonline.co.uk 

A US law firm has ordered 1,100 staff members at its London headquarters to work from home today after an employee returning from Northern Italy fell ill.  

Baker McKenize, based in the heart of the capital’s financial district, has ordered staff to work remotely.  

And while staff work from home, the London HQ will undergo a deep clean before updating workers on Sunday evening if the staff member has tested positive for the virus.

Baker McKenize, based in the heart of London’s financial district, has ordered staff to work remotely

Italy is the site of Europe’s worst outbreak so far, with 889 people infected and 21 dead, but authorities in some less-affected areas have re-opened schools and museums in an effort to bring daily life back to normal. 

A Baker McKenzie spokesman said: ‘Our priority is the health and well being of our clients and we have asked out London office employees to work from home.

‘We continue to closely monitor the situation and are following the advice and guidance issued by the government and Public Health England,’ the spokesman added. 

They added how the firm has the necessary technology and IT systems in place for staff to work at home allowing them to take precautionary measures without impacting clients.  

The announcement was issued just two days after US oil giant Chevron sent home around 300 staff at its offices in London’s Canary Wharf after an employee returned from a foreign work trip with flu like symptoms.

It is understood the Baker McKenzie employee had been on annual leave before they returned to work earlier this week, according to City A.M.  

The employee worked from home for two days before returning to the London office for two more before they began to feel unwell. 

The patient, from Surrey, is understood to be a man treated at Haslemere Health Centre before being transferred to Guy's and St Thomas' hospital in London

The patient, from Surrey, is understood to be a man treated at Haslemere Health Centre before being transferred to Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital in London

It comes after the UK’s 20th coronavirus case is the first patient to have caught the infection on British soil. 

The patient, from Surrey, is understood to be a man who was treated at Haslemere Health Centre before being transferred to Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital in London.  

He contracted the illness in England from an unknown spreader – who authorities are racing to track down to avoid them contaminating more people.

The UK's 20th coronavirus patient has been confirmed, marking the first case to have caught the infection on British soil. He came from Surrey

The UK’s 20th coronavirus patient has been confirmed, marking the first case to have caught the infection on British soil. He came from Surrey

A spokesman declined to comment on the how long the office, which is the first known London law firm to clear its premises, would be closed for if the staff member tested positive.       

Crossrail, which shares the same building on New Bridge Street, also asked staff to stay away.

Media firm OMD has also shut its Central London office and told around 1,000 staff to work from home after an employee returned from a trip to Australia via Singapore. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk