Coronavirus triggers work-from-home trend for tech firms in Seattle

The Brazil Building is shown on Amazon's Seattle campus on March 4, 2020, in Seattle. The online retail and cloud computing colossus has given its more than 50,000 employees in the region a green light to work remotely. — AP

SAN FRANCISCO: Tech firms in Seattle, a new focal point for the coronavirus epidemic, were telling employees this week to take advantage of technology to work remotely in an effort to contain the outbreak.

Ten of the 12 US fatalities from the outbreak have been in the northwest state, leading to an emergency declaration by the state and proactive measures in the community where tech plays a major role in the economy.