<p>Microsoft Corp on Wednesday joined the growing number of U.S. companies asking employees to work from home in order to limit exposure to the spreading <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">coronavirus</a> outbreak, as it responded to cases near its Seattle headquarters and in California.</p>.<p>Microsoft asked many of its employees in the Seattle region near its headquarters and the San Francisco Bay Area to work from home if possible until March 25.</p>.<p>"Taking these measures will ensure your safety and also make the workplace safer for those that need to be onsite," Executive Vice President Kurt DelBene told employees in a blog post.</p>.<p>The post said that some employees for whom "it is essential to be in the office or other work environments" - such as data center and retail employees - should continue to go to their work locations and that the company would follow government guidelines for disinfecting its sites for essential personnel.</p>.<p>Microsoft also asked employees to suspend any business travel to the areas "unless essential for the continuity of Microsoft."</p>.<p>Microsoft also said employees should cancel non-essential travel to areas with active coronavirus cases - which includes much of Europe, Asia and the Americas - and that employees were not required to travel if they had concerns about doing so.</p>.<p>In the greater Seattle area, the total number of coronavirus cases climbed to 39 on Wednesday and 10 deaths, up from 27 cases and nine deaths a day earlier, the Washington State Health Department announced. The first death in California from the coronavirus was announced on Wednesday.</p>.<p>The Seattle area has the largest concentration of coronavirus cases detected to date in the United States. Several cases were connected to a long-term care facility for the elderly.</p>.<p>Microsoft also implemented new guidelines for employees who do come to its offices. It recommended "limiting prolonged close interactions with people" by keeping in-person meetings as short as possible and staying at least 6 feet, or 1.8 meters, away from others.</p>
<p>Microsoft Corp on Wednesday joined the growing number of U.S. companies asking employees to work from home in order to limit exposure to the spreading <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">coronavirus</a> outbreak, as it responded to cases near its Seattle headquarters and in California.</p>.<p>Microsoft asked many of its employees in the Seattle region near its headquarters and the San Francisco Bay Area to work from home if possible until March 25.</p>.<p>"Taking these measures will ensure your safety and also make the workplace safer for those that need to be onsite," Executive Vice President Kurt DelBene told employees in a blog post.</p>.<p>The post said that some employees for whom "it is essential to be in the office or other work environments" - such as data center and retail employees - should continue to go to their work locations and that the company would follow government guidelines for disinfecting its sites for essential personnel.</p>.<p>Microsoft also asked employees to suspend any business travel to the areas "unless essential for the continuity of Microsoft."</p>.<p>Microsoft also said employees should cancel non-essential travel to areas with active coronavirus cases - which includes much of Europe, Asia and the Americas - and that employees were not required to travel if they had concerns about doing so.</p>.<p>In the greater Seattle area, the total number of coronavirus cases climbed to 39 on Wednesday and 10 deaths, up from 27 cases and nine deaths a day earlier, the Washington State Health Department announced. The first death in California from the coronavirus was announced on Wednesday.</p>.<p>The Seattle area has the largest concentration of coronavirus cases detected to date in the United States. Several cases were connected to a long-term care facility for the elderly.</p>.<p>Microsoft also implemented new guidelines for employees who do come to its offices. It recommended "limiting prolonged close interactions with people" by keeping in-person meetings as short as possible and staying at least 6 feet, or 1.8 meters, away from others.</p>