Seattle is one of the major US cities most affected by the novel coronavirus, and major companies are starting to take action. According to an internal memo obtained by The Verge, Microsoft is allowing or even encouraging its workers to perform their duties from home through March 9, provided they work in Seattle or San Francisco.
The memo also reveals that Microsoft has given its China-based employees the option to work from home as well, with a large percentage taking them up on the offer. However, it does not reveal whether or not any Microsoft employees have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
In Washington state, 28 cases of coronavirus have been diagnosed and 10 people have died from the disease. The outbreak has caused widespread disruption across the games industry, triggering the cancellation of major events, such as GDC. According to the ESA, E3 will continue as scheduled, however.