SEC’s D.C. Employees Told to ‘Telework’ Over Possible Virus Case

(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is encouraging employees at its sprawling Washington headquarters to work remotely beginning Tuesday amid concern that one of the agency’s workers may have contracted the coronavirus.

In an email to staff on Monday evening that was obtained by Bloomberg News, the SEC said that “out of an abundance of caution” it was requiring all people on the floor where the person sat to “telework.” The regulator said it was also reaching out to people with whom the person had been in contact, and that the agency had asked its landlord to have the area “deep cleaned.”

Wall Street’s main regulator is encouraging employees to stay home as it deals with extremely volatile markets. On Monday, U.S. stocks plunged more than 7.5%, triggering New York Stock Exchange circuit breakers en route to the worst day for the equities market since 2008.

The SEC told staff in the email that the employee hadn’t been at work since March 5 and that officials believed the person was “asymptomatic” while in the building.

In a statement, the SEC confirmed that an employee was treated for respiratory symptoms and was being tested for coronavirus.

“Amongst other precautions, the SEC is encouraging headquarters employees to telework until further guidance,” the agency said in its public statement. “Even with increased telework, the SEC remains able and committed to fully executing its mission on behalf of investors, including monitoring market function and working closely with other regulators and market participants.”

The Washington Post reported earlier on the possible case at the SEC.

To contact the reporters on this story: Ben Bain in Washington at bbain2@bloomberg.net;Andrew Ramonas in Arlington at aramonas2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jesse Westbrook at jwestbrook1@bloomberg.net, John Harney

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