Tech

Apple employee in Ireland tests positive for coronavirus in first confirmed case at company

Key Points
  • An Apple employee in Cork, Ireland, has tested positive for coronavirus.
  • Apple said that the employee remains in self-isolation and that the risk to others is low.
  • Amazon, Microsoft and Google have confirmed that employees have contracted coronavirus, too.
A pedestrian walks near a sign at Apple Inc.'s campus in Cork, Ireland.
Aiden Crawley | Bloomberg | Getty Images

An Apple employee in the company's Cork, Ireland, office has tested positive for coronavirus, Apple said Tuesday. It's the first known infection of one of Apple's employees.

"One of our employees in Cork has been confirmed to have Covid-19," Apple told CNBC. "We are closely coordinating with the local health authorities who feel the risk to others is low, and the individual remains in self-isolation. As a precaution, we have asked some of our team members to stay at home while we work with the Health and Safety Executive to assess the situation. We are continuing to regularly deep clean all our offices and stores and will take all necessary precautions in accordance with guidance from health authorities."

In the U.S., Apple has asked all of its employees at its Cupertino, California, headquarters to work from home if possible.

Google confirmed on Feb. 28 that one of its employees in a Zurich office contracted coronavirus. Amazon and Microsoft employees in Washington state have also tested positive and the companies have instructed employees to work from home.

Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. 

Why the U.S. government is questioning your online privacy
VIDEO15:2915:29
Why the U.S. government is questioning your online privacy