Thousands work from home as Sony and Takeda join telework

Japan's top companies shift to crisis mode as outbreak spreads

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Many Japanese companies have pushed telework to let employees avoid rush-hour commutes. © Reuters

Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- From Sony to Takeda Pharmaceutical, top Japanese companies across industry lines are telling employees to work from home as the country continues to see a rise in coronavirus cases.

The outbreak has spread to nations across Asia in the weeks since it started in the Chinese city of Wuhan. With 66 cases, Japan is among the countries with the most cases outside China, and the growing number of infections with no traceable links to the original epicenter have alarmed experts and government officials alike.

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