(Bloomberg) -- BlackRock Inc., the world’s biggest asset manager, said that an employee in New York City tested positive for coronavirus.
The person worked at the firm’s 40 East 52nd Street office in Manhattan, near its headquarters, according to a statement. The individual had been in close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 and has self-quarantined and worked from home since March 4, BlackRock said, and has no symptoms. Colleagues in close contact with the person were asked to work from home for two weeks and the firm conducted a deep cleaning of the area.
“We are working closely with local health authorities and based on medical and official guidance, our office remains open,” the firm said in the statement.
As the novel coronavirus spreads through the U.S. and Europe, businesses have been weighing how best to handle the situation. Wall Street firms face a particular challenge, as working from home can impose logistical and risk-related hurdles. A Deutsche Bank AG employee in Frankfurt and another at KKR & Co. in London were earlier said to have contracted the disease, setting off swift measures to contain potential outbreaks.
“BlackRock has been taking all precautions and preventive measures to maintain a clean and healthy environment for our employees and our clients,” the firm said Tuesday. “The business is operating at full strength, and there is no impact on our ability to serve our clients.”
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