CBS ordered employees to evacuate from two of its Midtown Manhattan offices Wednesday afternoon after two employees at its 'Black Rock' headquarters on 6th Avenue tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
The CBS Broadcast Center on 57th Street was also evacuated, as the infected employees frequented both buildings, reports say.
Hollywood Reporter 's Jeremy Barr said in a Tweet that the infected employees worked in CBS's News department.
A memo sent by CBS News President Susan Zirinsky explained that the company has "been planning for this possibility and want everyone to be assured that we are taking all necessary measures."
Employees who came into contact with the two people in question have been asked to self-quarantine and stay away from the offices for 14 days, Zirinsky continued.
Most other New York City-based employees will be working remotely for at least the next two days.
In the meantime, CBS will continue broadcasting from alternative locations. Zirinsky says the company expects offices to reopen on Monday.
New York State officials have instituted quarantines in numerous areas of the state and cancelled Tuesday's St. Patrick's Day Parade. Governor Andrew Cuomo emphasized at a news conference Wednesday that very few of the more than 200 people who tested positive for the virus had been hospitalized.
The World Health Organization officially declared the COVID-19 virus a pandemic earlier Wednesday.
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