5,000 Dentsu employees in Tokyo start telework after worker infected with coronavirus

TOKYO -- Dentsu Inc., Japan's largest advertising agency, announced that some 5,000 employees working at its head office in Tokyo would start teleworking on Feb. 26, after an employee tested positive for the new coronavirus.

The measure is expected to continue for at least two weeks, covering the incubation period of the virus.

Dentsu said that the employee carrying the novel virus that causes the disease COVID-19 is in his 50s. It said his infection was discovered on Feb. 24.

The company, headquartered in Tokyo's Minato Ward, decided to go ahead with the teleworking move based on a basic government policy decided on Feb. 25. The move affects workers at the company's head office and employees at related companies.

If agreements are reached with its business clients, the company will still allow small numbers of employees to take part in negotiations at the client's company.

Four employees who came into close contact with the infected Dentsu employee have received instructions from the local public health center, and have been working from home as their health is monitored.

(Japanese original by Koichi Uchida, City News Department)