Two Microsoft employees in Washington have been diagnosed with coronavirus

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Microsoft logo (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Two Microsoft employees have been diagnosed with coronavirus.
  • Both workers are based in Washington state.
  • The employees are both in quarantine now.

Two Microsoft employees have been diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19). Both employees are based in the Puget Sound area in Washington state. One of the employees works on Microsoft's main campus while the other works remotely. CNBC reports that one of the employees works remotely for LinkedIn. Both employees are now in quarantine.

A LinkedIn spokesperson shared the following quote with CNBC.

Local health experts have determined that this individual had no known contact with other employees while infected and, based on that fact, there is no risk to those who work at LinkedIn from this case, We are doing everything we can to support our colleague and will continue to keep the health and safety of our employees, customers and partners as our top priority, working closely with public health officials globally.

Bloomberg's Dina Bass reports that one of the employees worked on Microsoft's main campus and "had close contact with [a] small number of other employees."

Microsoft has taken steps to reduce the risk of coronavirus, including pushing Microsoft employees to work from home if possible. Microsoft also announced that it will continue to pay hourly workers their wages, even if health risks reduce the number of hours worked.

Over 95,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported, according to the World Health Organization, as reported by CNBC.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.