Fox Corporation, the parent company of Fox News, sent a memo to its employees dissuading them from traveling if it’s not essential as the coronavirus continues to spread globally.
Kevin Lord, Fox Corporation’s executive vice president of human resources, sent the memo, which was obtained by the Washington Examiner, on Monday evening.
“Given the ongoing spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), Fox Corporation employees should refrain from all non-essential business travel until further notice,” it read in part. “In addition, employees are advised against traveling (for essential business or personal reasons) to or within countries identified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as having ‘widespread or sustained community transmission’ of COVID-19.”
The countries that fall into that category include China, Iran, Italy, Japan, and South Korea.
The memo also encouraged employees who are worried about possibly having been infected to contact human resources.
“Additionally, if you believe that you or anyone in your household has come in contact with someone who has been exposed to COVID-19 or someone who has recently returned from one of the five countries identified above, please notify your HR business partner before reporting to work,” it continued. “As always, contact your manager or your HR business partner if you are not feeling well to discuss appropriate next steps.”
Fox Corporation’s decision is similar to the one WarnerMedia, the parent company of CNN, issued to its employees. Jeff Zucker, the chairman of WarnerMedia News and Sports and the president of CNN, sent a memo to employees hours earlier on Monday declaring that any international travel will have to receive his personal approval.
Globally, more than 89,000 people have been infected with the virus, and over 3,000 people have died from it.
