Scotiabank Halts All Non-Essential Travel as Coronavirus Spreads

(Bloomberg) -- Bank of Nova Scotia, the Canadian lender with operations in about 30 countries, has suspended all non-essential business travel as the coronavirus outbreak spreads worldwide.

Scotiabank told its nearly 100,000 employees of its decision, which applies to both domestic and international travel effective immediately, in a firm-wide email sent Thursday from the human resources department, according to people familiar with the memo. Any exceptions require approval from an executive vice president.

The Toronto-based lender joins other companies including JPMorgan Chase & Co. in restricting business trips as the spreading coronavirus risks becoming a pandemic.

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