Desperate times call for desperate measures. That’s especially true when it comes to the outbreak of a global pandemic. As the coronavirus continues to spread widely, facilities managers are scrambling to make sure strategies are in place to tackle the worst potential impacts of COVID-19.
A building in Seattle — the city seen as the “coronavirus capital” in the U.S. — has taken precaution to the next level. Last week, F5 Networks closed its office building in downtown Seattle for an entire day for cleaning and disinfection after it was discovered that a company employee had come in contact with a person who had tested positive for coronavirus, according to GeekWire.
The employee himself tested negative, according to the Seattle Times. But more than 1,500 employees work in the office building, so shutting it down completely for an entire day is no small measure. The building is back open now, but the company has also postponed a meeting in New York City and a conference in Orlando, is encouraging employees to work from home, and has cancelled all non-essential travel — measures being mirrored by many other companies across the country.
This post was submitted by Greg Zimmerman, executive editor, Building Operating Management and FacilitiesNet.com.
