Formula One team McLaren taking action to reduce Coronavirus risk to personnel

McLaren

McLaren taking action to reduce Coronavirus risk to personnel

14-day exclusion from McLaren for anyone who has visited high-risk areas

Ian Parkes

Wednesday 19 February 2020 17:43 Updated: 17:52

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The McLaren Group has taken the step of banning from its properties any person who has recently visited China in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak.

The Group, that includes McLaren Applied, McLaren Automotive and McLaren Racing, employs more than 4,000 people globally.

With the Formula 1 season now up and running following the start of testing at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, the team has made clear its intention to protect its personnel, that includes those working at the track and at its factory in Woking,

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The ban includes the team's motorhome in the Barcelona paddock. The team has already informed a media representative it knew had recently flown in from Shanghai that he would not be allowed in for the duration of the test programme.

A team spokesperson said: "Given the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak, and based on recent updates to UK government and World Health Organisation directives, the McLaren Group has issued a policy setting out restrictions and conditions we believe prudent to safeguard the health and well-being of our people, contractors and customers and protect our operations across our McLaren Applied, McLaren Automotive and McLaren Racing businesses.

"Among these measures is a precaution that anyone who has travelled from China in the last 14 days is not permitted to enter a McLaren Group operated building or facility for up to 14 days.

"We continue to monitor the situation closely and will revise our policy as circumstances change, while working with Formula 1 and the FIA.”

For the opening grand prix in Australia in mid-March, and the debut-making Vietnamese Grand Prix in early April, McLaren has also taken the step of re-routing staff flying into Melbourne and Hanoi by avoiding connections through high-risk destinations.

It has also advised that all non-essential travel to and from Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Macau, is postponed until further notice.

COVID-19, as it has become officially known, has so far claimed the lives of over 2,000 people, while the number of reported cases now tops 75,000.

The rapid spread of the virus has resulted in the cancellation of the Chinese Grand Prix, along with other high-profile events that include the World Indoor Athletics Championships.