REI Closes Corporate Campuses Due to Virus Scare

After reports that two employees who work at REI’s Seattle headquarters may have been exposed to the Coronavirus, the co-op decided to play it safe and close its Kent, Seattle, and Bellevue, Wash., campuses in order to disinfect the facilities.

Here’s the company’s official statement:

“On Monday, March 2, we learned of the potential exposure of two REI headquarters employees to the coronavirus. Out of an abundance of caution, we made the decision to close our Kent, Seattle/Georgetown and Bellevue/Eastgate campuses and begin a deep cleaning process, aligned to public health guidance, over the next two days. We plan to reopen our campuses on Thursday, March 5. Employees are working remotely during this time. We are also proactively deep cleaning our King County and Alderwood stores out of an abundance of caution. At this time, all REI stores are operating under regular hours. Across the co-op, we are stepping up cleaning efforts and providing additional cleaning supplies at our campuses, retail stores and distribution centers. Following guidance from public health officials, we are reminding all REI employees to frequently wash their hands and not to come to work if they are not feeling well.”

Pictured: REI Bellevue campus