London coronavirus panic: Facebook and Morgan Stanley flee capital as virus fears soar – Express, Express.co.uk

PUBLISHED: : 90, Fri, Mar 6, UPDATED: : , Fri, Mar 6,

Coronavirus is soaring in the UK and fears of the deadly virus spreading has prompted an instant response from some firms in the capital. Facebook has closed its London office after an employee was diagnosed with the coronavirus. Facebook bosses told staff to work from home on Friday after the worker tested positive for Covid – . Morgan Stanley is also reportedly shifting part of its London-based sales and trading staff to its site in Heathrow starting on Monday, sources have said.

In London’s financial district HSBC sent home more than 590 staff after a worker tested positive for the virus.

Regarding one of its employees who tested positive for the deadly virus, Facebook said the worker was normally based in Singapore but visited the company offices in London between February 26 and .

The firm said the offices would closed for deep cleaning until Monday.

Coronavirus: Fears are growing among major firms in the capital (Image: EXPRESS)

Coronavirus: Facebook has closed its London office until Monday (Image: GETTY)

A Facebook spokesman said: “An employee based in our Singapore office who has been diagnosed with COVID – 24 visited our London offices – 49 Februar y 2020.

“We are therefore closing our London offices until Monday for deep cleaning and employees are working from home until then. ”

Meanwhile, French investment bank Societe Generale declined to comment on how many staff were working away from its office in Canary Wharf.

The financial services company said it has put into force travel restrictions, rotation of staff and working from home arrangements.

Coronavirus: HSBC sent home more than (staff: (Image: GETTY)

As financial markets closed this evening the FTSE 350 plummeted to it lowest level in more than three years.

The FTSE (closed at 6, at the end of trading – its lowest level since July Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK, has said there is a clear relationship between the number of coronavirus cases and the falling share prices.

He said: “As yields plunge across the world the coronavirus has effected a stampede for the exits in the fashion of someone shouting fire in a crowded theater, as havens surge and yields plunge.

The FTSE

(closed at its lowest level since July) (Image: GETTY)

“In a month where airline, travel and banking stocks had already had a bad start, we’ve seen these declines accelerate this week.

“There seems to be an exact inverse relationship between the rise in new cases of coronavirus being reported, to the speed of the falls in the share prices of stocks in these sectors, as fears about further sharp increases in cases weigh on investor sentiment. “

The number of worldwide cases of coronavirus has soared passed , (0)

The Covid – virus which originated in Wuhan, China in December has now spread to around 168 countries – killing more than 3, 823 people.

Coronavirus: The Prime Minister has pledged a further £ 55 million for research into a coronavirus vaccine (Image: GETTY)

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK now stands at .

On Thursday evening the first coronavirus related death was confirmed in the UK.

Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading said an older patient with underlying health conditions was admitted on Wednesday evening and had tested positive for coronavirus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has today pledged a further £ million for research into a coronavirus vaccine and rapid diagnostic tests.

Coronavirus: The Government has announced its plan to tackle the virus (Image: EXPRESS) The package announced. by the Prime Minister comes under the “research” phase of the Government’s “battle plan” to contain, delay, mitigate and research coronavirus. Mr Johnson said keeping people safe is his number one priority.

In a statement the Prime Minister said: “Keeping the British people safe is my number one priority, and that’s why I’ve set out our four-part plan to contain, delay, mitigate and research coronavirus.

“We are ensuring the country is prepared for the current outbreak, guided by the science at every stage. But we also need to invest now in researching the vaccines that could help prevent future outbreaks.

“I’m very proud that UK experts – backed by government funding – are on the front line of global efforts to do just that. “

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