Employees at three Santa Monica offices have tested positive for coronavirus.
Colorado Center and Water Garden, which are located across the street from each other in the Bergamot area, said they each have an employee who has tested positive for COVID-19. Universal Music, a block away on Colorado Avenue, also reported an employee with coronavirus. Bergamot is home to many other tech and media companies, including Bird, Edmunds and Lionsgate.
An employee at Hulu's offices at Colorado Center was diagnosed with COVID-19, Variety reported Monday morning.
A Hulu staffer with knowledge of the situation told Variety that the employee quarantined themself after experiencing symptoms. Hulu told every employee who came into contact with the employee to self-isolate immediately and the company is temporarily closing its offices at Colorado Center for deep cleaning. Employees have been asked to work from home and most began last week.
Variety reported Friday that Universal Music evacuated its offices Friday after an employee tested positive for coronavirus.
Also on Friday, Water Garden management sent an email to tenants confirming that an employee in the office park had contracted the virus. The offices were deep cleaned Thursday and will continue to be sanitized frequently, according to the email.
"Based on discussions with the Public Health Department, the building will remain open," the email said. "Individual firms are to make their own decisions on whether to close their offices temporarily and allow employees to work remotely."
Additionally, a Santa Monica Apple Store employee contracted the virus earlier this month while on leave and has not returned to the area since.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Los Angeles County reached 69 Sunday night, public health officials said.
Santa Monica has declared a local emergency and closed all public buildings, schools and the Santa Monica Pier. Restaurants have been ordered to halt dine-in service and bars, theaters, bowling alleys, arcades, gyms, fitness centers, spas, hair salons, massage parlors and nail salons will close for two weeks.
The city put a temporary moratorium on evictions, utilities shutoffs and late fines for parking tickets for workers financially impacted by coronavirus.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued guidelines banning gatherings of more than 50 people, closing bars and directing restaurants to cut capacity by half. Seniors and those with chronic health conditions have been ordered to self-isolate at home.
madeleine@smdp.com
