Editor’s Note: The original version of this story included wording that suggested COVID-19 was less lethal than it is. The reference to the study this claim was based on has been removed, as the study has been roundly criticized by many experts.
A report translated via Nintendo Life has revealed that at least one employee within the company has had the worst happen to them. The company has announced that an employee has come down with the novel coronavirus. The infection stemmed from employees working within the Setagaya office. They are now being treated in hospital, and Game Freak moved to reassure employees that there is little risk of spread to others. The company has already implemented a variety of controls in their offices and workforce to limit the spread of the disease.
The individual was diagnosed with the virus on April 22. and was swiftly quarantined. They are currently being treated at a local hospital. The company has said that they already implement remote working and other limits in that office in January 2020. These controls included limiting in-office meetings and personal contact. Employees were also provided with cleaning supplies and other sanitation options. “The infected employee has not worked in the office since Thursday, April 2nd,” read the statement. “Due to this, we have been informed by insurance agents that other staff are unlikely to contract it from this employee.”
Game Freak also announced earlier plans that they had elected to not send employees to local or international events, as well as all employees having switched to remote work entirely since April 1.
The company assures that “it is not necessary, at this time, to cease our work,” and that “swift action with the highest priority” will be taken to curtail the coronavirus “inside and outside the company.”
This comes as the global pandemic of COVID-19 spreads across many countries and has infected more than 2.6 million people. Currently, more than 190,000 people have died from the disease. At least in these dire times Game Freaks is not pulling a GameStop.
